Wall Street Journal editorial plugs Ryan for VP

The Wall Street Journal recommended that Mitt Romney pick House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for his vice presidential running mate, in an editorial published Thursday.

The editorial board first pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of other names often listed as top contenders: former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) before saying that, while each of them have strengths, Ryan would bring more to the ticket. 

"The case for Mr. Ryan is that he best exemplifies the nature and stakes of this election," the editorial says. "More than any other politician, the House Budget Chairman has defined those stakes well as a generational choice about the role of government and whether America will once again become a growth economy or sink into interest-group dominated decline."

The editorial called Ryan part of a new group of Republican legislators.

"He represents the GOP's new generation of reformers that includes such Governors as Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and New Jersey's Chris Christie," the editorial continued. "As important, Mr. Ryan can make his case in a reasonable and unthreatening way. He doesn't get mad, or at least he doesn't show it. Like Reagan, he has a basic cheerfulness and Midwestern equanimity."

One of the biggest knocks against Ryan has been the fact that he's the architect of a 2013 budget plan that dramatically reforms Medicare. Because Romney already endorsed a form of the plan, the editorial board argues, Ryan is ideal for joining the ticket and defending the plan.

"Republicans are likely to do worse if they merely play defense on Medicare and other entitlements," the editorial continues. "The way to win on the issue is go on offense and contrast Mr. Romney's patient-centered reform with President Obama's policy of government price controls and rationing medical care via a 15-member panel of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats."

Overall, the editorial concludes, Romney needs to make the election about "big issues" which is what picking Ryan would help do.

The editorial comes as the Republican National Convention nears. Romney is likely to announce his running mate ahead of the convention. Democrats have said they would prefer Romney pick someone like Ryan, Rubio or Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), who would excite the GOP base but probably drive away independent voters and help President Obama's reelection chances.