Ryan Pick Shows Romney Doesn't Want to Play It Safe

Politico's Mike Allen weighs in with an early assessment on the choice of Paul Ryan, and sees it as a sign that Mitt Romney recognizes his strategy of playing it safe and making the campaign all about Obama's record instead of his own vision wasn't working anymore. Given Ryan's aggressive plan to overhaul Medicare and cut the deficit, this is a bold, "politically dangerous" move. The 42-year-old surely "will bring excitement and purpose to a campaign that had been devoid of both," but he's also an easy target for Democrats.

So is it a smart pick? We probably won't know until November. It will end up being "brilliant, or political malpractice," writes Allen. "Some Beltway Republicans are already fretting that this could be an intellectual version of Sarah Palin: It’s August, you’re behind, conservatives don’t like your candidacy, so you throw a long ball." Read his full take here. Meanwhile, conservative Bill Kristol sounds very happy with the choice at the Weekly Standard. (More Paul Ryan stories.)