Was Paul Ryan a good VP pick for Mitt Romney?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

He needed someone who could bring energy without risking the Palin critique about not being ready for the job. THe best one who could hold that down would be Condi and I don't buy the notion that she would have provoked a right wing revolt. Rubio would be risk obviously of course, but he wouldn't have gotten embarrased the way Palin did.

I really don't see the benefit afforded by Portman. The man is a first term Senator with low numbers and from the part of the state where Romney was already going to do well in (Ubber Republican Cincy burbs and surrounding rural counties). Chances are Portman would have done the same for Romney in OH that Ryan did in Wisconsin. Romney needed help in Cleveland and Toledo metro areas and Portman wouldn't have provided any assistance there.

If you want a bland Senator, the better pick would have been North Carolina's Richard Burr, who whilst also somewhat anonymous, he woudl have been a two termer who won reelection by double digits; had a record on military and defense issues, which is a nice compliment to Romney's economic focus; has a personal connection to Virginia; and finally a record of collaboration in the Senate.