Romney Pressed to Pick Paul Ryan

      There was a WSJ headline this morning that claimed that Romney's pick is soon and that it could be announced today. He doesn't seem to be showing much concern about it, though.

      One premise that is widely shared, is the idea that if Romney is going to go safe-Portman-he will wait closer to the convention, but if he's going to go bold-Ryan-he will do it soon to get some bang for his buck.

      You also have to assume that many are urging Romney, perhaps some in his campaign, to make a choice, any choice, soon as a way to stop the bleeding. The polls that have been coming out the last week augur very badly for him.

      His numbers are slipping, the President is over 50% in some of them, and the number of undecideds is coming down. A strong majority of Americans-including 68% of the independents-want him to release his tax returns. This could be the only way to attempt to change the narrative, short term.

      "Mitt Romney is still offering no hints about who he'll pick as his running mate, but that hasn't stopped reporters from trying to get something, anything out of the presumptive Republican nominee about his potential vice president."

        http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-still-isn-t-talking-vp-pick-224208132.html

        The conservatives are making it very clear who they want-Paul Ryan. I've already thrown my hat in the ring for Ryan-not that I think it will be him, the odds are still that Romney plays it safe and goes Portman-but I am heartened to see the increasing groundswell in the Republican party for Ryan.

       Who knows, maybe the Republicans-and me, the Republican Hater-will get what we wish for. We'll see which of us ends up sorry:

       "Pressure is building on Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney to pick Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate. The earnest 42-year-old is a rising star in the GOP, blending conservative credentials that appeal to the Tea Party with a congenial, even methodical demeanor that would be fitting for a vice president."

     "Since he's chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan would offer Romney detailed knowledge of the government's finances—which Romney has vowed to hack away at. But Ryan would also be an instant liability for Romney, because of positions he has staked out over the years in Congress."

      "Unlike other possible VP candidates--such as former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty or Florida Senator Marco Rubio—Ryan has spelled out some of the painful trade-offs that will be necessary to get Washington's finances in order. To some extent, Ryan deserves credit for being one of the few Washington politicians who has dared to tell voters that the government is going to do less for them in the future."

     "But some of Ryan's specific proposals would make him a lightning rod in the presidential campaign. Romney, of course, would be perceived as endorsing those proposals if he chose Ryan as his running mate. "

      Love how this reporter, Rick Newman, is editorializing about Ryan deserving "credit" for being "bold." The whole press corps seems to have contracted the David Brooks Syndrome (DBS).

      By all means, let's give the conservatives what they want and make this election about whether or not to gut Medicare. They think they can win. Why talk them out of it yet?

      I still think Romney's the problem. No way does he and his Boston team pick Ryan. I'd love to believe it, but I will only believe it when I see it.

      The most compelling argument is that he looks like he'll probably lose if he doesn't go bold. However, that sounds a little too much like saying that Paul Ryan would be a game changer.