Mitt Romney chooses Ryan as vice presidential running mate‎

Romney made the announcement Saturday before a throng of supporters aboard the retired battleship USS Wisconsin in Norfolk , Virginia.

Romney appeared with Ryan in Norfolk to kick off a four-day campaign bus tour.

When the time arrived for Romney’s big introduction of Ryan on stage on Saturday, Romney’s tongue briefly let him down.

“Join me in welcoming the next president of the United States, Paul Ryan,” a beaming Romney said at the event in front of a retired battleship USS Wisconsin.

Moments later Romney returned to the podium. “Every now and then I’m known to make a mistake. I did not make a mistake with this guy,” he said of Ryan.

But he corrected himself, saying the Wisconsin congressman is “going to be the next vice-president of the United States.”
 
Romney’s announcement ends weeks of speculation on who his running mate would be. The most notable names mentioned included Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Ohio Senator Rob Portman, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
 
McDonnell introduced Romney on the USS Wisconsin, before Romney announced Ryan as his running mate.
 
Democrats are eager to pounce on Ryan’s budget plan with its proposed cuts to programs for the elderly – particularly in Florida, where many seniors live and which could be a crucial state in the November election.
 
Ryan’s selection makes the Florida leg of Romney’s bus tour an instant test for the new ticket.
 
Obama’s campaign manager Jim Messina said in a statement that Ryan shares Romney’s commitment to “the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy.”
 
Romney starts a bus tour on Saturday through four politically divided states that he needs to win in November: Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio.
 
In the November general election Romney will face U.S. President Barack Obama, who is seeking a second term.
 
Source: TOE www.timesofearth.com and agencies