Republican Romney names Paul Ryan as running mate

US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has named conservative Paul Ryan as his running mate in November's election.
Mr Ryan, 42, is a congressman for his home state of Wisconsin.

Ohio Senator Rob Portman and former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty had also been tipped to run with Mr Romney as vice-presidential candidate.

The BBC's North America Editor Mark Mardell says the decision is a bold and ideological choice.

Recent opinion polls suggest a close race between Mr Romney and President Barack Obama in November's poll, with Mr Obama tending to have a slight lead in most surveys.

Analysts say Mr Romney will be hoping to regain momentum in the campaign after a series of pro-Obama campaign advertisements attacking his record.
Courtesy of Auntie Beeb, but this is all over the place

So! Things just got interesting. After floundering in the face of a baseless hear-say accusation for what, over a week? the Romney camp decided to make the race a referendum on domestic/fiscal policy, instead of teasing Mittens about his taxes.

Now, this is a) yet another hilarious contribution from the gift that just keeps on givin' 2) horribly frightening and with a potentially disastrous and depressing outcome after all the Pubbie voter obstruction hi-jinks. Captain RomneyRyan will drive USS Austerity right down that Gilded Drain; corporate dystopia and A Handmaiden's Tale for some, tiny American flags for others! But will the base respond well to a Mormon/Papist ticket?

Coincidentally, do any of our resident Randroids have second thoughts about their predictions in the forum prediction thread on who's gonna nail POTUS?