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| Paul Ryan captivates the conservatives as he gears up for primetime pitch | Paul Ryan captivates the conservatives as he gears up for primetime pitch |
| (4 months later) | |
| Barbara Meeks cuts a striking figure around the Republican national convention in her lone star shirt and ten-gallon hat. "If I was 100% behind Romney, I'm 1,000% behind him now," said the delegate from Texas. | Barbara Meeks cuts a striking figure around the Republican national convention in her lone star shirt and ten-gallon hat. "If I was 100% behind Romney, I'm 1,000% behind him now," said the delegate from Texas. |
| There is one simple reason behind Meeks's revved-up enthusiasm, and it has nothing to do with Romney, his policies, or the line-up of platform speakers – including his wife, Ann – who have tried to inject energy and warmth into the Tampa convention to formally nominate their candidate for the White House. It is all about the man who will be standing next to him through the campaign: his running mate, Paul Ryan. | There is one simple reason behind Meeks's revved-up enthusiasm, and it has nothing to do with Romney, his policies, or the line-up of platform speakers – including his wife, Ann – who have tried to inject energy and warmth into the Tampa convention to formally nominate their candidate for the White House. It is all about the man who will be standing next to him through the campaign: his running mate, Paul Ryan. |
| "I am enthused," said Meeks, chair of the Republican party in Galveston county. "He brings youth, vibrancy and a brilliant business mind. Ryan's plan for the economy coupled with Romney will be very effective." | "I am enthused," said Meeks, chair of the Republican party in Galveston county. "He brings youth, vibrancy and a brilliant business mind. Ryan's plan for the economy coupled with Romney will be very effective." |
| Talk to delegates in the Tampa Bay Times Forum and it becomes obvious that she is not alone. For a huge number of delegates, the Wisconsin congressman is the real star turn. In some cases, Romney barely gets a mention. | Talk to delegates in the Tampa Bay Times Forum and it becomes obvious that she is not alone. For a huge number of delegates, the Wisconsin congressman is the real star turn. In some cases, Romney barely gets a mention. |
| "Paul Ryan is a real numbers man," said Waverly Wood, a Tea Party activist from Virginia. "He knows how to balance the budget, and that's exactly what we've been calling for for three years," she said. | "Paul Ryan is a real numbers man," said Waverly Wood, a Tea Party activist from Virginia. "He knows how to balance the budget, and that's exactly what we've been calling for for three years," she said. |
| Ryan, who will deliver his big primetime speech on Wednesday evening after being formally nominated, was seen by many as a potentially risky choice for Romney. He is a budget hawk, with a controversial plan to tackle the deficit by cutting entitlement programs such as Medicare. A staunch Catholic, he is also on the most socially conservative wing of the party, with hardline anti-abortion views. So he could prove to be a turn-off for moderates and independents. | Ryan, who will deliver his big primetime speech on Wednesday evening after being formally nominated, was seen by many as a potentially risky choice for Romney. He is a budget hawk, with a controversial plan to tackle the deficit by cutting entitlement programs such as Medicare. A staunch Catholic, he is also on the most socially conservative wing of the party, with hardline anti-abortion views. So he could prove to be a turn-off for moderates and independents. |
| But he was picked to fire up a party base that remains sceptical about Romney's conservative credentials, and the evidence from Tampa is that it is precisely these views which generate the strongest excitement. He is dominating delegates' conversations to such an extent that on Wednesday Politico described Romney as the 2012 Republican "placeholder" while a new generation led by Ryan comes to the fore in future contests. | But he was picked to fire up a party base that remains sceptical about Romney's conservative credentials, and the evidence from Tampa is that it is precisely these views which generate the strongest excitement. He is dominating delegates' conversations to such an extent that on Wednesday Politico described Romney as the 2012 Republican "placeholder" while a new generation led by Ryan comes to the fore in future contests. |
| "When Paul Ryan was announced as vice-president, that was the first time I made a donation," said Elaine Ervine, from Collierville, Tennessee. She was at the RNC for Life anti-abortion rally at the Tampa aquarium on Tuesday to see Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, two of Romney's primary rivals beloved by the Republican right. | "When Paul Ryan was announced as vice-president, that was the first time I made a donation," said Elaine Ervine, from Collierville, Tennessee. She was at the RNC for Life anti-abortion rally at the Tampa aquarium on Tuesday to see Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, two of Romney's primary rivals beloved by the Republican right. |
| "I think Paul Ryan was an attempt to let the conservatives know that [Romney] was going to stand with us. We were all Santorum people, and we're very happy," Ervine said, gesturing to five female companions. | "I think Paul Ryan was an attempt to let the conservatives know that [Romney] was going to stand with us. We were all Santorum people, and we're very happy," Ervine said, gesturing to five female companions. |
| Choosing Ryan still carries many dangers for Romney as he tries to build a winning coalition of voters to secure the White House. On Wednesday, a poll published by the Pew Research Centre and the Washington Post showed that voters had mixed feelings about Romney's choice of running mate. Overall the most frequent responses were mixed: "conservative", "intelligent", "good", "unknown" and "young". | Choosing Ryan still carries many dangers for Romney as he tries to build a winning coalition of voters to secure the White House. On Wednesday, a poll published by the Pew Research Centre and the Washington Post showed that voters had mixed feelings about Romney's choice of running mate. Overall the most frequent responses were mixed: "conservative", "intelligent", "good", "unknown" and "young". |
| Just over a third of respondents saw him in a positive light, using words like intelligent, good, energetic, honest and smart. He also received a roughly equal number of negative reviews, with critics describing him as an "idiot", "extreme", "phony" and "scary". | Just over a third of respondents saw him in a positive light, using words like intelligent, good, energetic, honest and smart. He also received a roughly equal number of negative reviews, with critics describing him as an "idiot", "extreme", "phony" and "scary". |
| But at a Tea Party-backed "Unity Rally" near Tampa on Sunday night, hundreds gathered to hear Herman Cain – another one-time rival of Romney and darling of the Republican right – declare that Paul Ryan had "energised" the Republican ticket. | But at a Tea Party-backed "Unity Rally" near Tampa on Sunday night, hundreds gathered to hear Herman Cain – another one-time rival of Romney and darling of the Republican right – declare that Paul Ryan had "energised" the Republican ticket. |
| "And it says a lot about the leadership of Governor Romney," Cain said. "He didn't make a safe choice. He made a bold choice," he added, before being drowned out by cheers. | "And it says a lot about the leadership of Governor Romney," Cain said. "He didn't make a safe choice. He made a bold choice," he added, before being drowned out by cheers. |
| "I'm more excited about Paul Ryan than I am about Romney," said Eric Papp, 30, a management speaker and author, who was in the crowd. "He's very practical, he's a planner and he's got a big vision. Ryan really gives us that likeability factor." | "I'm more excited about Paul Ryan than I am about Romney," said Eric Papp, 30, a management speaker and author, who was in the crowd. "He's very practical, he's a planner and he's got a big vision. Ryan really gives us that likeability factor." |
| Scott Sparkman, from Webster, Florida, said Ryan's selection showed Romney was "starting to develop that core that we're looking for and starting to move to the right". | Scott Sparkman, from Webster, Florida, said Ryan's selection showed Romney was "starting to develop that core that we're looking for and starting to move to the right". |
| Sparkman voted for Newt Gingrich in the Florida primary, but was proudly wearing a Romney-Ryan T-shirt at the Unity Rally. "I wanted someone more conservative [than Romney]" he said. "I don't think we had many great choices." | Sparkman voted for Newt Gingrich in the Florida primary, but was proudly wearing a Romney-Ryan T-shirt at the Unity Rally. "I wanted someone more conservative [than Romney]" he said. "I don't think we had many great choices." |
| Romney would still have gotten Sparkman's vote, he said, but it was Ryan who upped his excitement about November 6. "It's going to bring some enthusiasm into the election. He's starting to develop that core that we're looking for and starting to move to the right." | Romney would still have gotten Sparkman's vote, he said, but it was Ryan who upped his excitement about November 6. "It's going to bring some enthusiasm into the election. He's starting to develop that core that we're looking for and starting to move to the right." |
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