US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has named fiscal conservative Paul Ryan as his running mate in November’s election.
Ryan, 42, is a congressman for his home state of Wisconsin.
Ohio Senator Rob Portman and former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty had also been tipped to run with Romney as vice-presidential candidate.
The BBC’s North America Editor Mark Mardell says the decision is a bold and ideological choice.
Romney formally introduced his running mate in a news conference at the retired battleship USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia.
He told cheering crowds: “It’s an honour to announce my running mate and the next vice-president of the United States, Paul Ryan!”
The White House candidate is launching a bus tour through four key swing states that he needs to win in November’s election: Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio.
Romney, 65, made his announcement early on Saturday to supporters via a phone app, that read: “Mitt’s Choice for VP is Paul Ryan.”
