BREAKING NEWS: Paul Ryan is Romney's Running Mate

At a campaign event in Norfolk, Virginia, this morning, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made it official: Paul Ryan is his choice for Vice President.

"Today we take another step forward to restore the promise of America," Romney said.

Ryan has campaigned heavily for Romney over the course of the 2012 campaign. He has appeared with the Republican nominee on several occassions, and he has held his own events in support of Romney, too.

"I'm excited for what lies ahead and I'm thrilled to be a part of America's Comeback Team," Paul said.

Ryan is a United States Representative from Wisconsin. He has served in the House of Representatives since 1999. He is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee and made national news last April when he unveiled his plan to balance the federal budget and reduce the nation's debt.

The proposal, called the "Path to Prosperity," has made Ryan a star among Republicans and conservatives. But Democrats have held the Ryan plan up as the wrong choice for the American economy. According to the Wall Street Journal, among the proposals in Ryan's budget are: cutting trillions of dollars of spending, lowering corporate tax rates from 35 percent to 25 percent, and introducing sweeping changes to Medicare and Medicaid. 

During the 2012 presidential campaign, both Romney and President Barack Obama have highlighted Ryan's "Path to Prosperity." Romney says it's the road map for America's future, and he will sign it into law immediately upon taking the Oath of Office. Obama, meanwhile, says it's absolutely the wrong direction for the country and he would not sign it into law.

With the selection of Ryan and Romney's running mate, the Ryan budget plan will only take on greater importance as the presidential campaign nears Election Day on November 6.

Kid Reporter Andrew Liang has more on Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate on the Scholastic News Election 2012 website. Stay tuned to the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps for the latest on this story and all of the news from the 2012 campaign trail.

(Photo: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, right, and vice presidential candidate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, wave at the crowd during a campaign event on August 11 in Norfolk, Virginia. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer))

—Editor Dante A. Ciampaglia

What do you think about Mitt Romney selecting Paul Ryan as his running mate? Do you think it will help or hurt Romney's campaign for President? Why? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Comments

[KId Reporter - Topanga Sena]

I think that most of the residence in Central Florida expected Mitt Romney to announce Senator Marco Rubio as his running mate. This morning's news came as a surprise to some Floridians.