of Paul Ryan as vice presidential candidate change the campaign? Ryan is an experienced congressman with a strong ideological record. This choice shows that Romney is not afraid to run with someone who is articulate, energetic and ideological. This was a bold way of defining the Republican ticket. Was it a gamble, picking a running mate who is favouring big budget cuts for medicare, and is considered a fiscal hawk? No matter who he picked, it was going to be someone who is more of a deficit hawk and more fiscally conservative than the Democrats -- but picking someone like Ryan defines it very clearly. And I think Romney recognizes that Ryan is not afraid to fight and can articulate his vision -- he won't just sit there and absorb blows. Romney could have made a "safer" choice. Did he feel that he had to do something, since he has been behind in the polls? Yes, I think he needed to make a move that shows that this is not business as usual; that was equally important for the morale of the troops as it was for the campaign. This choice also means that the rest of the presidential race will focus on more substantive issues than where Obama was born or what Romney did to the family dog. Do you think Obama's handling of the financial crisis, including the unpopular bank bailouts and the ballooning deficits, will hinder his chances? There is a gut feeling [among the American people]