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I don't think Romney chose Ryan because he approves of his policies--I think it was a desperation move, and I doubt whether Ryan will be allowed to influence Romney much if he is elected.

Nevertheless, I certainly don't trust Reuters not to put up a misleading--or a lying--headline. Indeed, the headline seems to be contradicted by a quote not too far down in the article:

"Do you think raiding Medicare to pay for Obamacare is an achievement? Why don't we just get rid of Obamacare all together?" Ryan said at a rally in Springfield, Virginia, on Friday.

I still cannot support Romney. But I'd say that that quote pretty well destroys Reuter's claim.

I don't think Romney chose Ryan because he approves of his policies — I think it was a desperation move, and I doubt whether Ryan will be allowed to influence Romney much if he is elected.

Romney has already said that he will run on his own budget (and Medicare) plans, whatever they are - not on Ryan's blueprint:

Romney says campaign will run on his budget plan, not Paul Ryan's - TheHill, by Bernie Becker, 2012 August 13

Of course, given the fiscal inadequacy and PR disaster of Ryan's Medicare plan in the last budget / debt ceiling battles that was exploited by the Dems at the time, and Ryan's subsequent acknowledgement of the fact and "modification" of the plan, it may not be such a terrible idea for Romney and Ryan to focus on ObamaCare and be less specific about their own "plans" - that is, if they can get away with it.

Republicans concerned Ryan as VP could cost party House and Senate seats - TheHill, by Cameron Joseph and Alexandra Jaffe, 2012 August 13

I don't think Romney chose Ryan because he approves of his policies — I think it was a desperation move...

Of course, he needed Palin/Cheney/Kemp/Quayle to pacify / energize the base, that was the plan all along - that's the same losing play GOP has been playing for decades now.

*** = Excitement Factor (to vote FOR)

Presidential Candidate	VP Candidate
Republicans
Gerald Ford	Bob Dole
Ronald Reagan ***	George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush	Dan Quayle ()*
Bob Dole	Jack Kemp ***
George W. Bush ^^	Dick Cheney ***
John McCain	Sarah Palin ***
Mitt Romney	Paul Ryan ***

Democrats
JImmy Carter	Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale	Geraldine Ferraro ***
Michael Dukakis	Lloyd Bentsen
Bill Clinton ***	Al Gore
Al Gore ^^	Joe Lieberman
John Kerry ^^	John Edwards ()*
Barack Obama ****	Joe Biden

^^ = Near Win / Loss

Notice the pattern of which column (side of the ticket) the Excitement Factor should be in, to win?

Republicans

Democrats