Politics

Here's the above-the-fold headline on Sunday's Miami Herald: "Ryan could hurt Romney in Florida."

It was almost as if everyone dared Mitt Romney to make a bold move.

He couldn't possibly pick Ohio Sen. Rob Portman or former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as his running mate, could he? Too boring, the critics said! Too white bread! Too uninspiring! The cover of Newsweek talked about Romney's "wimp factor." Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert — not that he played a leading role here — described a Romney-Portman ticket as "like the bland leading the bland."

Good morning.

With Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick now in the books (if you somehow escaped the news from the weekend, it's Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin), the presidential campaign shifts into a higher gear this week.

Florida's 7th Congressional District was born out of redistricting. It pits longtime Rep. John Mica against freshman Rep. Sandy Adams. She has the backing of the Tea Party, but he raised more money. The contest has been particular nasty, with both candidates bringing distinct ideologies and styles.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan stopped off in Ryan's home state of Wisconsin Sunday. Ryan has represented Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District for 14 years. In that time, he's gained national attention for proposing sweeping changes to the way government works while also watching out for his constituents.

President Obama says he wants this campaign to be about ideas and differing outlooks for the future. The selection of Rep. Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate offers the chance for just such a fight. Ryan is the author of a conservative and controversial budget.

Over the weekend, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney named Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate. David Greene talks to Ryan Lizza, a reporter for The New Yorker, who recently profiled Ryan for the magazine.

Rep. Paul Ryan will be campaigning in Iowa Monday. It will be his first day campaigning solo since GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney named him as his running mate on Saturday. Over the weekend, thousands of people lined up for hours to see the newly minted GOP ticket.

The addition of Rep. Paul Ryan to the GOP ticket is certain to elevate health care as a campaign issue this fall.

President Obama has long used House Republicans as a foil. Now that one of the leaders in that group, Paul Ryan, is on the ticket alongside Mitt Romney, the connection is that much clearer. NPR's Scott Horsley joins host Guy Raz to talk about the president's response to the newly formed GOP ticket.