Thune: Romney/Ryan Won't 'Kick the Can Down the Road'

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential pick will present a clear contrast between the conservative Republican ticket and President Barack Obama’s failed economy throughout the Fall campaign.

“It certainly demonstrates that Gov. Romney is very serious about doing big things for the country and wants this campaign to be about big things,” Thune said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

He described the selection of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as “decisive” and “bold” and congratulated Romney for his decision.

“Paul Ryan represents the kind of leadership that people in this country are hungry for,” Thune said.

The contrast between the Obama White House’s 42 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent and the Romney/Ryan campaign’s solution-oriented response to big issues, including the economy, will boost the Republicans in the election, Thune said.

“It’s a risk for President Obama to have a ticket like a Romney/Ryan ticket, where you’ve actually laid out definitive solutions and answers to America’s problems,” he said. “This president has kicked the can down the road on every major issue. I think this is a bigger risk for the president, because they’re going attack the Ryan budget as cutting Medicare, but the president is the only one in this campaign who’s cut Medicare to the tune of $700 billion.

“I think the biggest risk for the country is doing nothing,” Thune continued. “That’s what ends Medicare as we know it. Paul Ryan, to his credit, whether you like it or not, has come up with a plan that puts Medicare on a more sustainable fiscal path going forward.”