Saturday morning in front of the U.S.S Wisconsin battleship in Norfolk, Virginia, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate.
The University of Virginia's Center for Politics is calling Romney's choice bold and says it is a huge surprise but a strategic move. It is a choice that may swing Virginia as a battleground state.
Come November, Virginia has a big role in deciding the outcome in the election and Romney is doing everything he can to drop jaws and pick up votes.
Kyle Kondik with the UVA Center for Politics said, "Any of the positive attention that you can get in Virginia for a selection like this is useful."
The center for politics says the announcement was strategically made in the commonwealth to lure more voters toward Romney's ticket.
"I'm excited for what lies ahead, I'm excited to be a part of America's comeback team," exclaimed Ryan on Saturday.
But picking the Wisconsin congressman was not expected. "It was sort of a surprising pick," said Kondik.
He says Ryan is seen as an "intellectual darling" within the Republican Party and the selection may cause controversy.
"Ryan has supported a budget plan that would make some major changes to Medicare that Democrats have attacked Republicans over successfully," said Kondik.
With a good deal of undecided voters, the center for politics believes the president of the United States will be elected based on which political party's base is bigger come November.
Kondik explained, "The idea is to excite the Republican base and judging by reaction, I think he did it."
The coming weeks on the campaign trail will prove if it was more worth it for Romney to make a conservative "safe" pick, or if this bold selection will pay off come November.
