麻豆传媒

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has selected Paul Ryan -- a U.S. congressman from Wisconsin -- as his running mate for the fall election campaign.

Romney officially confirmed his choice at a public event in Norfolk, Vir. Saturday morning.

Standing in front of retired U.S. battleship USS Wisconsin, Romney introduced Ryan and promised that together, the pair would restore 鈥減romise to America.鈥�

The Republican presidential candidate promised to cut the deficit, create 12 million new jobs, create an agenda to achieve North American energy independence and repeal a controversial health care reform plan enacted by President Barack Obama鈥檚 administration.

He also promised to reinstate the work to welfare program.

Before introducing Ryan as the 鈥渘ext president of the United States鈥� -- a mistake he later corrected -- Romney stated that 鈥渢oday is a good day for America and there are better days ahead.鈥�

Following Romney, an elated Ryan took the podium.

The 42-year-old told the crowd that together, he and Romney will 鈥渞estore the greatness of this country.鈥�

The congressman slammed Obama鈥檚 track record and promised to bring new leadership to the White House that would create economic prosperity, growth and jobs.

鈥淔ollowing four years of failed leadership, the hopes of our country, which have inspired the world, are growing dim,鈥� said Ryan. 鈥淭hey need someone to revive them. Governor Romney is the man for this moment.鈥�

The pair is set to embark on a four-day bus tour where they will visit the must-win states of North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Ohio. All four states were won by Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Ryan is a seven-term Member of Congress and a Wisconsin native. He is currently the Chairman of the House Budget Committee and is widely viewed by Republican lawmakers as an intellectual leader within the party.

In March, Ryan authored a 2013 budget proposal entitled 鈥淭he Path to Prosperity: A Blueprint for American Renewal.鈥�

The proposal criticized Obama鈥檚 handling of 鈥渢he most predictable economic crisis鈥� in U.S. history and warned of the 鈥渃rushing burden of debt.鈥�

In the proposal, Ryan calls for cuts in government spending and employment, cutting taxes and repealing the controversial health care law.

The plan also proposed changing Medicaid -- the U.S. health program for residents with limited income -- into a voucher-like system to cut costs, as well as overhauling the U.S. national health insurance program Medicare.

CTV鈥檚 Washington Bureau Chief Paul Workman told 麻豆传媒 Channel that by choosing Ryan as his running mate, Romney has presented a strong conservative platform to voters.

鈥淲ith this choice I think Romney has really said 鈥極K, we are going to have a conservative agenda, that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e going to campaign on,鈥� said Workman.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party will likely pounce on Ryan and paint him as someone who will 鈥渆viscerate鈥� the Medicare system with deep cuts, Workman said. 鈥淭he Democrats will in fact be salivating that he鈥檚 been nominated as vice-president.鈥�

Political expert Marc Sandalow of the UC Washington Centre agreed.

鈥淚t means television commercial after television commercial telling senior citizens, 鈥楧o you want someone who鈥檚 going to take away your health care? Then vote for the Republicans,鈥濃�� Sandalow told 麻豆传媒 Channel Saturday afternoon.

Sandalow added that Ryan鈥檚 selection changes the tone of the Republican鈥檚 campaign.

鈥淩omney needs to talk about the economy if he wants to beat Barak Obama. The economy is not doing well鈥�so by picking Paul Ryan, who is known for his budgeting and fiscal expertise, he helps to make this an election about the economy and certainly the next couple of weeks people will be talking about Paul Ryan and not about Romney鈥檚 taxes.鈥�

Before Romney confirmed Ryan as his choice, other potential running mates included Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and former Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

However, Sandalow said Ryan鈥檚 selection helps boost Romney鈥檚 鈥渆xcitement factor.鈥�

鈥淭o have someone out there who bounces around and is a good speaker is obviously an asset.鈥�

Ryan is from Janesville, Wisc., where he lives with wife Janna and their three children. The congressman holds a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio.

Ryan's selection and Romney's own nomination will be ratified by delegates at the Republican National Convention, which begins on Aug. 27 in Tampa, Florida.

Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden will officially be nominated to run for a second term at the Democratic convention the following week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Recent national polls as well as surveys in several battleground states indicate a narrow advantage for Obama with less than three months remaining before the Nov. 6 election.

With files from The Associated Press