One of the first political events I vaguely remember (I was eight years old) is listening on the radio to John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address. When I woke up this morning, this passage was echoing in my head. It needs a bit of updating—but I think it captures the spirit of the Ryan pick: 
 
 "And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world." ||||| RACE RESET: In making Paul Ryan his running mate, Mitt Romney is discarding one of the most basic assumptions that has driven his campaign until now: Make the race about President Obama, and he will lose. Don’t worry about being accused of being vapid and elliptical, went the Romney theory of the case: The more specific you are, the more chance voters will be distracted from a simple referendum on the Obama economy. Run out the clock, look credible and plausible, don’t lunge for shiny objects that take you off your economic message, and you’ll win. 
 
 But it wasn’t working. The selection of Ryan — to be announced at 9:05 a.m. aboard the USS Wisconsin (!) as Romney begins a swing-state bus tour in Norfolk, Va. — disrupts a race that had been trending subtly but unmistakably Obama’s way. Romney now has a chance to make the race about something big, rather than the petty squabbles that have dominated the general election so far. 
 
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 reset Ryan responds to VP question Mitt campaigns with Ryan in Wis. 
 
 Months ago, a Romney official was walking through the pluses and minuses of the various V.P. possibilities, and said at the very end of the spiel: “Only one person on the campaign wants Paul Ryan. That’s Mitt Romney.” The two had just campaigned together, and proved to have superior chemistry. 
 
 A top Romney adviser told us after the news broke early this morning: “Going big has risks, but fewer than going small. Now this is a race about what the future’s going to look like. … This was all Mitt’s decision. These are two guys who love data, and have a similar way of looking at the world. … Mitt isn’t thinking about Ohio or the Hispanic vote. He’s thinking: ‘I’m gonna be president. Who’s going to help me succeed?’” 
 
 Romney officials refer to Ryan as THE PARTNER — someone who would work closely with Romney as he governs, and have partial ownership of the first 100 days’ accomplishments. 
 
 (Also on POLITICO: What the Ryan pick means for Obama) 
 
 The case for Ryan: Since Romney was already paying the price for embracing the Ryan budget, he might as well get the advantages, which are profound: Ryan is young, Rust Belt, Catholic, serious, and – his top advantage – he will bring excitement and purpose to a campaign that had been devoid of both. Ryan is a charismatic speaker who excels at explaining wonky concepts to working-class constituents. (He sold George W. Bush’s failed Social Security plan much more effectively than Bush ever did.) The decision doesn’t look politically craven, which appeals to Romney. If anything, it’s politically dangerous. 
 
 The drawbacks: Limited executive and foreign-policy experience. Ready on Day 1 – really? Takes focus off Obama and the economy. Gives Dems a huge, juicy target. Ryan is age 42, but looks 32. 
 
 (PHOTOS: Paul Ryan through the years) 
 
 The pick will turn out to be brilliant, or political malpractice. Some Beltway Republicans are already fretting that this could be an intellectual version of Sarah Palin: It’s August, you’re behind, conservatives don’t like your candidacy, so you throw a long ball.
– Politico's Mike Allen weighs in with an early assessment on the choice of Paul Ryan, and sees it as a sign that Mitt Romney recognizes his strategy of playing it safe and making the campaign all about Obama's record instead of his own vision wasn't working anymore. Given Ryan's aggressive plan to overhaul Medicare and cut the deficit, this is a bold, "politically dangerous" move. The 42-year-old surely "will bring excitement and purpose to a campaign that had been devoid of both," but he's also an easy target for Democrats. So is it a smart pick? We probably won't know until November. It will end up being "brilliant, or political malpractice," writes Allen. "Some Beltway Republicans are already fretting that this could be an intellectual version of Sarah Palin: It’s August, you’re behind, conservatives don’t like your candidacy, so you throw a long ball." Read his full take here. Meanwhile, conservative Bill Kristol sounds very happy with the choice at the Weekly Standard.