<p>Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has picked Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan to be his running mate, according to a Republican with knowledge of the development.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorised to disclose the decision.<br /><br />Romney's completion of the Republican ticket comes as he tries to repair an image damaged by negative Democratic advertising and shift the trajectory of a campaign that's seen him lose ground to President Barack Obama.<br /><br />The vice presidential selection will dominate headlines, and Romney's team has been relentlessly teasing the announcement for weeks.<br /><br />Ryan, 42, is viewed by some in the Republican Party as a bridge between the buttoned-up party establishment and riled-up conservative activists that have never warmed to Romney.<br /><br />As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan could help Romney make the argument that only the Republican ticket knows how to turn around a nation in the midst of a sluggish economic recovery.<br /><br />As talk about Ryan swirled this week, Democrats have been castigating Romney for embracing the Ryan-sponsored budget proposal that critics say is painful to the poor and elderly. It was a sign of the line of attack to come.<br /><br />The move also now links Romney directly with House Republicans, including no-compromise conservative activists who have pressed for deep spending cuts. Obama has been casting House Republicans as an impediment to progress in the often-gridlocked Washington.<br /><br />At the same time, Ryan on the ticket could help Romney become more competitive in Wisconsin, a state Obama won handily four years ago but that could be much tighter this November.<br /><br />In a statement issued last night, Romney's campaign would say only that the running mate would be revealed at 9 am EDT (06:30 pm IST).<br /><br />The newly minted Republican ticket will appear together today in Norfolk, Virginia, at the start of a four-state bus tour to introduce the Republican ticket to the nation.<br />On Thursday, Romney fuelled the buzz around Ryan, telling NBC that he wants a vice president with "a vision for the country, that adds something to the political discourse about the direction of the country."<br /><br /><br /> </p>
<p>Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has picked Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan to be his running mate, according to a Republican with knowledge of the development.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorised to disclose the decision.<br /><br />Romney's completion of the Republican ticket comes as he tries to repair an image damaged by negative Democratic advertising and shift the trajectory of a campaign that's seen him lose ground to President Barack Obama.<br /><br />The vice presidential selection will dominate headlines, and Romney's team has been relentlessly teasing the announcement for weeks.<br /><br />Ryan, 42, is viewed by some in the Republican Party as a bridge between the buttoned-up party establishment and riled-up conservative activists that have never warmed to Romney.<br /><br />As the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan could help Romney make the argument that only the Republican ticket knows how to turn around a nation in the midst of a sluggish economic recovery.<br /><br />As talk about Ryan swirled this week, Democrats have been castigating Romney for embracing the Ryan-sponsored budget proposal that critics say is painful to the poor and elderly. It was a sign of the line of attack to come.<br /><br />The move also now links Romney directly with House Republicans, including no-compromise conservative activists who have pressed for deep spending cuts. Obama has been casting House Republicans as an impediment to progress in the often-gridlocked Washington.<br /><br />At the same time, Ryan on the ticket could help Romney become more competitive in Wisconsin, a state Obama won handily four years ago but that could be much tighter this November.<br /><br />In a statement issued last night, Romney's campaign would say only that the running mate would be revealed at 9 am EDT (06:30 pm IST).<br /><br />The newly minted Republican ticket will appear together today in Norfolk, Virginia, at the start of a four-state bus tour to introduce the Republican ticket to the nation.<br />On Thursday, Romney fuelled the buzz around Ryan, telling NBC that he wants a vice president with "a vision for the country, that adds something to the political discourse about the direction of the country."<br /><br /><br /> </p>