It is difficult to see how Paul Ryan will appeal to the independent voter who is in the middle of the political spectrum rather than to the right. Mitt Romney’s decision is bold. The question is—is it wise?

Harsh Desai

It is a move to energize the base. It is a move to break out in the polls. It is a choice which recognises where the new power in the Republican Party lies. The choice of Paul Ryan, the “Darling of the Right” by Governor Mitt Romney to be his vice-presidential running mate is a move by Governor Romney away from his centrist roots to the right. It is the completion of the transformation of Governor Romney from the Massachusetts moderate to a full-blown conservative. As the Republican moderates have slowly disappeared and the middle of the Republican Party has fallen through. Governor Romney has decided to follow the Republican Party instead of getting the Republican Party to follow him and for that he has chosen Paul Ryan, the young dynamic ideologue, who is the chairman of the House Budget Committee and a thorn in President Obama’s side.

The young representative from the Midwestern state of Wisconsin (representing its first district) will immediately put the key swing state of Wisconsin and possibly the Midwest into play, goes the calculation. But more than that it is a recognition of who the boss in the Republican Party is and that is the right. The small town roots of Paul Ryan, he comes from the Jane’s town in Wisconsin, his amazing rise, his youth, his energy, will all help the Romney ticket to move on and there is already great enthusiasm as Romney and Ryan campaign together.

What got Paul Ryan onto the Republican ticket is undoubtedly his brain power and energy. He has been a foot soldier and a general for the right and the fact that he rose from the Republican ranks working among others with Jack Kemp who served as housing secretary in the administration of President George Bush and was the Republican Party’s nominee for vice-president in the 1996 election where he was the running mate of presidential nominee of Bob Dole. Further he has an appealing back story about life in a small town in Wisconsin, his resilience after his father’s premature death and his allergenic family. His interests are hunting, fishing and noodling (catching catfishes with his bare hand), which he said on CNN, was great fun which all make for an attractive story.

But he comes with a lot of baggage. His proposed budget is highly controversial with a lot of cutbacks and the choice of Paul Ryan enables President Obama and the Democrats to run against Congress, which is deeply unpopular as they can tie more closely to the Romney ticket.

The choice of Paul Ryan does nothing to bolster the Republican vote in two key constituencies where they are lagging behind the Democrats badly—women and minorities. Actually the choice of Paul Ryan is likely to make the female vote gap between the parties sharper as Paul Ryan is socially very conservative and believes that life begins at conception and opposes funding for contraception. This choice is likely to throw more women in the arms of the Democrats and it does nothing to strengthen the Republican Party’s appeal among the minorities and Hispanics who are a key voting block. The choice of Senator Marco Rubio of Florida would have possibly done both. It is particularly difficult to see how Paul Ryan will appeal to the independent voter who is in the middle of the political spectrum rather than to the right. Representative Paul Ryan is particularly known for the attitude on Medicare, the programme that provides health care for seniors, and Representative Ryan’s policies are going to frighten seniors. But what Paul Ryan will do is keep Governor Romney honest i.e. to the core beliefs of the Republican Party and sharpen the debate with the Democrats. They have dubbed themselves as the come back team. Indeed the trillion dollar deficit may take centre stage rather than the 8.2% unemployment rate as will trickle down economics.

David Axelrod, President Obama’s advisor, told Candy Crawly on the State of the Union programme of CNN that Mitt Romney was paying only 13.9% income tax and  under Paul Ryan’s budget he would pay only 1% tax.

The debate has been sharpened and at stake is the direction in which America is headed.

Mitt Romney’s decision is bold. The question is—is it wise?