Assets: House Budget Committee chairman. Wunderkind first elected to Congress in his 20s, now in seventh term. Seen as intellectual leader of Republican Party. Energizes conservative base. Good rapport with Romney. Lost his father as a teenager, giving him hard-luck family story that Romney lacks. Hails from Wisconsin, a battleground state.
Negatives: Budget plan to cut government spending and reform entitlements scares some voters, Team Obama would fan flames of fear over his plan. Still on the young side (early 40s). Can get wonky and esoteric on the stump.
