But Republicans suddenly see encouraging signs in Wisconsin after the selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as his running mate.
Could Mr. Romney's small bounce from his selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as his running mate already be fading?
Wisconsin clearly became more competitive after Mr. Romney's selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as his running mate.
Moving quickly on the transition, Mr. Obama announced his selection of Representative Rahm Emanuel as his White House chief of staff.
Despite a few flirtations with boldness (including the selection of Representative Paul Ryan as his running-mate), the Romney campaign always reverts to passivity.
But the primary season and Mr. Romney's selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as his running mate are evidence that the culture wars are still raging.
The selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as the Republican vice-presidential candidate provides President Obama with something he has been eagerly looking for — a bigger target.
The campaign believes the selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan, from Wisconsin, as Mr. Romney's running mate has improved the ticket's chances there.
So in the days following Mitt Romney's selection of Representative Ryan, it seemed natural for graying Lollapaloozans to reflect on their own multidecade identity crisis.
It is still unknown whether the selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin as Mr. Romney's running mate will provide him with a bump in the polls.
(Perhaps this was because of a small bounce for Mr. Romney following the selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as his running mate).
