Axelrod: Ryan Pick A Big Surprise

Top Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod said one of the biggest surprises of the campaign was Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate, according to the Associated Press.

Speaking to students at the University of Chicago Monday, Axelrod said the Ryan pick helped Romney play to his base when he should have been reaching out to more Americans. He also said that the campaign had expected Romney to pick either Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) or former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Axelrod added that the Ryan pick was less shocking than Sen. John McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008.

I do have to admit that it came as a surprise to me when Ryan was announced as Willard’s running mate. I had expected him to go for the “bland and blander” approach of Portman or bringing T-Paw onto the ticket to be the Bible-thumper that he couldn’t be openly.