Post date: Aug 11, 2012 4:24:10 PM
"Join me in welcoming the next president of the United States, Paul Ryan," a beaming Romney told an energized crowd in Norfolk, Virginia, with the retired battleship USS Wisconsin as the backdrop.Romney's wife Anne had immediately told him of his mistake when he walked off the podium prompting Romney to return to the stage to correct his flub.
At the introductory event of his vice presidential running mate, Republican U.S. Candidate Mitt Romney commits a major gaffe introducing Paul Ryan as the "next President of the United States."
NOROLK, VIRGINIA UNITED STATES (AUGUST 11, 2012) (NBC) - The stage was set on Saturday (August 11) for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's big introduction of his running-mate Paul Ryan, when Romney's tongue let him down.
After Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan took his place on stage, Romney stepped up alongside him at the podium.
"Every now and then I've been known to make a mistake. I made a mistake with this guy. But I can tell you this - he's going to be the next Vice President of the United States," Romney said.
The Republican Presidential nominee's flub comes after his gaffe-filled tour of Europe during which he offended the British by questioning their
readiness to host the Olympics and the Palestinians by suggesting they were culturally inferior to the Israelis.
Romney's choice of Congressman Paul Ryan caps a months-long search for a running mate to complete the ticket that will face President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Nov. 6 election.
Ryan highlighted how his experience in Washington where he is chairman of the House Budget Committee in Congress will complement Romney's executive and private sector's experience.
"I believe that my record of getting things done will be very helpful to Governor Romney's executive and private sector success outside of Washington," Ryan said, standing in front of the retired battleship USS Wisconsin -- coincidentally named for his home state.
The selection of Paul Ryan will draw attention to issues of government spending and cuts in governmental health programs. The House budget Chairman is a favorite of the conservative Tea Party, an anti-tax, limited-government movement that helped Republicans take over the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.
"I've worked closely with Republicans as well as Democrats to advance an agenda of economic growth, fiscal discipline and job creation. I'm proud to stand with a man who understands what it takes to foster job creation in our economy," Ryan said highlighting his economic and fiscal priorities.
Ryan's selection immediately draws attention to a budget plan Ryan proposed as House budget chairman that would include unpopular cuts in government health programs for the elderly and poor. Democrats are eager to pounce on that issue, particularly in Florida, where many seniors live and which could be a critical state in the November election.
Ryan's choice if Ryan is a bold one as he finds himself suddenly falling behind a bit in what has been a razor sharp race with Obama in a presidential campaign that is based largely on the weak U.S. economy. The selection of 42-year-old Ryan brings a measure of youthful exuberance to the Republican ticket and energy as party activists prepare to gather in Tampa late this month for the convention that will formally nominate Romney as the presidential nominee.
The announcement comes as Romney starts a bus tour on Saturday through four battleground states he needs to win in November -- Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio.