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Rep. Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin walked down the gangplank of the USS Wisconsin, the old battleship draped in red, white and blue bunting, and into the roar of the race for the presidency.听

The man from Janesville, Wis., who Republicans hold up as one of their leading intellectual lights and Democrats decry as the architect of Medicare鈥檚 and Social Security鈥檚 demise, spent his first moments as Mitt Romney鈥檚 vice presidential choice bathed in sunshine.听
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But that glittering moment of American political theater quickly gave way to the sort of tough talk about tough choices that is quintessentially Ryan. America is in a 鈥渄ifferent, difficult, dangerous moment," he said, and Mitt Romney won鈥檛 shrink from it.听
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鈥淲hatever the explanations, whatever the excuses, this is a record of failure,鈥� Ryan said of President Obama鈥檚 record in office. Mr. Obama, 鈥渁nd too many like him in Washington, have refused to make difficult decisions because they are more worried about their next election than they are about the next generation.鈥�

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Ryan, the House Budget Committee Chairman, has seen his budget proposals over the last two years held up by Republican insiders as courageous efforts to correct America鈥檚 fiscal trajectory and a stark contrast to a Senate that has not passed a budget in nearly three years. While they have been lightning rods for criticism from the left, Ryan has responded to those critiques bluntly: Where鈥檚 your plan?
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That same attitude was on display Saturday.听
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鈥淭he commitment Mitt Romney and I make to you is this,鈥� Ryan said, the crowd howling in approval at every pause. 鈥淲e won't duck the tough issues 鈥� we will lead! We won't blame others 鈥� we will take responsibility!鈥�
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Romney highlighted Ryan鈥檚 style 鈥� two parts earnest, one part policy wonk 鈥� in an introduction that stressed Ryan 鈥渨orks in Washington 鈥� but his beliefs remain firmly rooted in Janesville.鈥�
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Ryan 鈥渦nderstands that honorable people can have honest differences. And he appeals to the better angels of our nature. There are a lot of people in the other party who might disagree with Paul Ryan,鈥� Romney said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know of anyone who doesn鈥檛 respect his character and judgment.鈥澨�
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And it is Ryan鈥檚 most important judgment that America鈥檚 system of taxing and spending 鈥� with an emphasis on the spending side, particularly on entitlement programs 鈥� is broken.听
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鈥淧oliticians from both parties have made empty promises which will soon become broken promises, with painful consequences, if we fail to act now,鈥� Ryan said.听
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But one line, near the end of Ryan鈥檚 speech, may encapsulate both the promise and the peril of Ryan鈥檚 new place beside Mitt Romney.听
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鈥淲e can turn this thing around. Real solutions can be delivered. But it will take leadership,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淎nd the courage to tell you the truth.鈥�
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The crowd took this last clause as a signal to roar their approval.听
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But Democrats think the truth about Ryan鈥檚 budget plans, particularly on Medicare and Social Security, may be enough to bury not only Romney鈥檚 presidential hopes but Senate and House Republicans in tough November contests.听
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The committee charged with electing Democrats to the House of Representatives sent out a fundraising appeal just as Ryan鈥檚 speech concluded that speaks to how Democrats will attempt to portray Ryan in the weeks to come.听
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鈥淩omney just named Paul Ryan as his Vice Presidential nominee,鈥� wrote Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Robby Mook. 鈥淵eah 鈥� THAT Paul Ryan. The architect of the Republican plan to kill Medicare.鈥�
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In the Senate, too, the Ryan budget presents political complications.

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) of Montana, who鈥檚 challenging incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D), expressed his support for the Romney-Ryan ticket in a statement Saturday:

鈥淐ongressman Ryan is a public servant of the highest order, and I appreciate his character, intelligence, and creativity, not only on the vast majority of issues on which we agree 鈥� like controlling government spending, developing our natural resources, and providing tax relief for families and job creators 鈥� but also on the few occasions where we haven't.鈥�
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But where they haven鈥檛 is Ryan鈥檚 central contribution to Congress 鈥� his budgets. 听Representative Rehberg has consistently voted against Ryan鈥檚 budget because of its sharp treatment of Medicare.
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鈥淔rom ending bailouts to reducing taxes, there are some good things in Congressman Ryan鈥檚 plan,鈥� Rehberg said in a release in March, 鈥渂ut I simply refuse to gamble with something as important as Medicare.鈥�
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On Saturday, however, the GOP faithful embraced their new prospective No. 2.听
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The pairing impressed the handful of attendees who spoke with the Monitor afterward, all of whom were already ardent Republican supporters.
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All were only broadly familiar with Ryan if they had heard of him at all 鈥� but all of them liked what they heard Saturday morning.听
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The Romney-Ryan pairing is 鈥渟omething we can really get behind,鈥� said Tristen Cramer of nearby Virginia Beach. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a perfect fit.鈥�
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Ms. Cramer, a recent law school graduate, said she was impressed by the duo鈥檚 fiscal conservatism, intelligence, and that they appeared 鈥渃onfident and comfortable鈥� together.听
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Jim Farmer, a salesman from Norfolk, said he was impressed by the candidates鈥� biographies.听
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鈥淏oth of them have a common trait: [they鈥檙e] hard working,鈥� said Mr. Farmer.听
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Ryan, who emerged from a crowded field of potential running mates including a number of current and former governors, was thought to be a dark horse candidate as late as several weeks ago.
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That had Denise Crittenden rooting for Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) to get Romney鈥檚 nod, she said. But seeing Ryan on Saturday morning, Ms. Crittenden of Norfolk said she thought the blend of Romney鈥檚 experience as Governor of Massachusetts and Ryan鈥檚 time in Washington was 鈥渧ery impressive.鈥�

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