By Kathy Wray Coleman, Associate Publisher, Editor, Cleveland Urban News.Com and the Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney publicly announced his selection today of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (pictured) as his vice-presidential running mate, quashing any speculation that a minority or woman would get the nod or, more notably, U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio.

A native of Janesville, WI, Ryan, 42, and good looking, earned a bachelor's degree from Miami University in Ohio.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 and is a fiscal conservative who chairs the House Budget Committee.

Portman was on the short list but was not well known in Ohio or nationally, and was criticized by the Obama campaign during an interview with Cleveland Urban News.Com and Obama Campaign Manager David Axelrod as linked to the failed economic policies of the George W. Bush administration as Bush's chief adviser on the economy.

Ryan, on the other hand, helped embattled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker win a recall election in June, one pushed by the state's public sector unions, including the Wisconsin Education Association, the state teachers union connected to the National Education Association, a union that backs Democratic presidential candidates.

"On June 5 courage was on the ballot in Wisconsin and courage won," said Ryan during a speech on Romney 's announcement in which he thanked Wisconsin supporters and Walker, and spoke of his victory over recall.

The WEA and other Wisconsin unions were dismayed over a state law enacted by the Republican controlled Wisconsin State Legislature and supported by Walker that sharply curtails collective bargaining and takes away the right of unions to strike accordingly and to arbitrate most aspects of employee working conditions.

Ryan said also during his speech to Republican supporters that he and Romney would save Wisconsin from becoming a welfare state and that god and nature govern, apparently over laws and such things as the United States Constitution.

Ohio is a pivotal state for presidential elections and one where unions still have power.

Last year Ohio voters struck down Senate Bill 5, a now defunct state law passed earlier last year by the Republican controlled Ohio State Legislature that would have crippled the state's public sector unions, and precluded the power to strike for fair wages and working conditions, among other radical provisions.

Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by telephone at 216-659-0473 and by email@ editor@clevelandurbannews.com