Republicans, Democrats to react to Romney Paul Ryan VP pick Sunday
WAUKESHA/MILWAUKEE -- Mitt Romney on Saturday, August 11th announced Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate, aboard the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia. A rally is planned for Sunday evening in Waukesha -- and Democrats will hold their own media event to discuss the Ryan pick Sunday afternoon.
In Richmond, Virginia Saturday morning, Romney announced he's selected Wisconsin's own Paul Ryan as his four-month search for a vice-presidential candidate became official. The campaign signs now say "Romney/Ryan."
Following the announcement, Romney and Ryan jumped aboard a bus, kicking off a four-day bus tour. The tour made three stops in Virginia Saturday.
The pick has electrified conservatives, and recasts the presidential election as a debate over the role of government.
Saturday, Ryan issued forceful remarks on balancing the budget and reducing the nation's deficit.
"Today was a good day for me. He's taken over our party with his intellectual leadership, making sure we focus on values and things we believe in," Romney said of Ryan.
Ryan is expected to temporarily leave the bus tour Sunday to attend a rally in Waukesha. That rally is planned for Waukesha's Expo Center. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and the rally kicks off at 6:00.
Prior to the Waukesha rally, Romney and Ryan have stops planned in Mooresville, North Carolina at the NASCAR Technical Institute, and at Absolute Style in High Point, North Carolina.
FOX6's Mike Lowe is following the Romney/Ryan bus tour. Stay tuned to FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for the latest!
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Meanwhile, President Barack Obama met with his campaign in Chicago following the Romney/Ryan announcement Saturday.
Obama's re-election campaign issued a statement, and Democrats reacted Saturday to Romney's selection of Ryan as his running mate.
"He's a good family man, but his vision for the country is wrong," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.
Mayor Barrett says Romney trails Obama in the polls, and the selection of Ryan indicates Romney is trying to energize his campaign which he says is lagging in support.
Barrett disagrees with Ryan's remedy for ending the nation's economic woes, and says his plan to turn Medicaid into a voucher system puts more and more pressure on the middle class. Barrett says the nation's economic decline began with George W. Bush.
In a statement issued Saturday, Democrats said: "In selecting Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has doubled down on his plan to raise taxes on middle class Wisconsinites to pay for an additional $250,000 tax break for millionaires and billionaires. Both Romney and Ryan support taking our country back to the same trickle down policies that got us into the financial crisis and destroyed economic security for the middle class. Paul Ryan’s radical budget would also end Medicare as we know it, resulting in higher medical costs for seniors. Working Wisconsinites can’t afford the Romney-Ryan polices."
Democrats have scheduled a Milwaukee event to discuss the Romney/Ryan ticket for 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
U.S. Senate candidate Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Mayor Tom Barrett will join other elected officials and supporters at Laborer's Local 113 Hall in Milwaukee.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.
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