George Will, "What Romney needs in a running mate": Paul Ryan or Bobby Jindal

Although it had been hoped that hiring in US in the beginning of 2012 portended an economic recovery, it is now thought that the dismal March jobs report, issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that warm winter weather artificially inflated February jobs growth (see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/mild-winter-may-have-artificially-inflated-jobs-data-economists-fear/2012/04/06/gIQAb8clzS_story.html). In short, there are still 12.7 million Americans desperately seeking work.

In a Washington Post opinion piece entitled "What Romney needs in a running mate" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/romney-needs-a-heavy-hitter-as-his-vice-president/2012/04/06/gIQAB0sVzS_story.html?hpid=z2), George Will claims that if Romney chooses Marco Rubio as his running mate, he cannot expect that Rubio will have an effect on Hispanics nationwide. Will writes:

"But are, for example, Hispanics nationwide such a homogeneous cohort that, say, those who came to Colorado from Mexico will identify with a son of Cuban immigrants to Florida (Sen. Marco Rubio)? Do these realists know that, according to exit polls, Nevada’s Hispanic Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, won only about a third of the Hispanic vote in 2010?"

Will also observes that historically, "in the 16 elections since World War II, 10 presidential candidates have failed to carry the home state of their vice presidential running mates." This fact weighs against the choice by Romney of both Florida's Marco Rubio and New Jersey's Chris Christie.

Instead, Will points to two excellent choices: Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

Indeed, it now appears that the November presidential election is going to turn on the stalled US economy, and although ordinarily presidential elections are not determined by the choice of one or another vice presidential candidate, this election could be different, particularly if Romney selects Ryan.

Ryan's budget plan is very much in the news, and has received praise from New York Times columnist David Brooks ("Ryan has at least taken a big step toward an eventual fiscal solution," see: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/opinion/books-that-other-obama.html) and scathing criticism from President Obama ("thinly veiled social Darwinism," see: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/ryan-responds-to-obama-criticism-says-president-is-more-partisan-and-desperate-by-the-day/).

Let's hope Romney brings the US budget crisis and deficit to the fore by choosing Paul Ryan. I agree with David Brooks that Ryan's budget proposals do not amount to a panacea; however, there is much substance there and the basis for discussion, negotiation and an ultimate solution to America's crushing economic problems.