Romney pick rouses Houston voters

Voters at 59 Diner weigh in on VP pick

HOUSTON – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney chose seven-term Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan for his running mate Saturday and many Houstonians had an opinion about the decision.

Local 2 spoke to locals watching the announcement at the 59 Diner in Shepard.

Stacie Perry said this is certainly good news.

"Exciting choice, given the economic situation we're in, we need all the help we can get," said Perry

"It's kind of interesting just because of his lack of experience," said Brian Weissman, also at the event.

Ryan, a 42-year-old father of three is a rising star in the Republican party and has established himself as a leading GOP spokesman when it comes to significantly reducing the deficit and debt.

"He adds youth, he adds energy, he adds an understanding of the budget and the numbers and what it's going to take to undo the mess President Obama has put us in," Harris Co. Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill said.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats said the Congressman's charisma may appeal to voters but his policies will do the exact opposite.

"It's the Ryan policies that are going to gut the programs for college, Medicare, seniors. It is a bad choice. It doesn't matter how good his personality is," Harris Co. Democratic Party Chairman Lane Lewis said.

Republicans and Democrats alike say Ryan is far from the conventional choice, but he will ensure the focus of the election is where it's needed most: the economy.

"In Representative Ryan we have someone who has been up there fighting for conservative challenges that our county faces, " Woodfill said.

"It becomes Obama/Biden fighting for the middle class and it becomes Romney/Ryan fighting for the upper class. It's a real election choice now." Lewis said.