VP serves as bridge to average US citizens 
Since Monday, almost everyone has been paying attention to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., especially with the colorful presentation of votes from the leaders of every state. What was also interesting was that every state, when presenting its count, ended with "and the man who will be the new president of the United States, Mitt Romney." Clearly, Romney is the man tasked with the job of "beating" President Barack Obama, but he took a backseat last night to the man he chose as his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan.
Ryan is the definition of a Republican, a man so staunch in his conservative beliefs that he tends to radiate among his peers. Many of the voters are excited about Romney's faith in him, as many voters are not able to connect with Romney's multimillion-dollar net worth. Paul Ryan, on the other hand, is an easygoing, common American with humble origins. In fact, Ryan's acceptance speech Wednesday night had been rewritten many times to focus on his small-town values and immigrant family background.
There has been rising interest in the vice presidential candidates lately, something unseen since the days of Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s. Former Gov. Sarah Palin exploded onto the national stage of politics in the 2008 race, driven by passion and a rallying cry for change. Although her stardom was littered with criticism and constant attack of her character, she became a polarizing figure in politics. If Ryan can replicate Palin's passion from the past election, he will attract press and allow Romney the opportunity to reinvent his image.