Local RNC Delegates Believe Paul Ryan Is Good VP Pick

Montclair delegates attending the Republican National Convention later this month say they are happy with Mitt Romney's pick of Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate.

"We feel that Paul Ryan was one of the more qualified candidates and we are happy with the choice," said Roland Straten, who has run for Congress on Wednesday.

Straten and his wife, Susan Straten, who is chair of the  are both headed to Tampa on Sunday to attend the convention.

Susan Straten is representing the 10th district as a delegate while Roland Straten is serving as an honorary delegate.

"Was [Paul Ryan] a good choice? Only time will tell. Right now we are very happy with the choice," Roland Straten said. "We see it as very positive that the debate appears to be moving from tax returns and murdering health care recipients to addressing the very real problem of health care.

"Everyone knows that Medicare 'as we know it' is not sustainable," he added. "Paul Ryan is one of the very few politicians in power who has had the guts to address the problem knowing all the pushback that will come from it.

"But ultiimately it will be the American people who decide whether we are going to address problems realistically or keep pretending that everything will be okay," he said.

Roland Straten said he was pretty sure Gov. Chris Christie would not be selected as Romney's running mate.

"And we are happy that he was not because we believe New Jersey needs Chris Christie," he said.

A new Associated Press poll shows that Romney and President Obama are still nearly tied for support among registered voters, 46-47 percent. But when it comes to independents, Romney has the lead. 

The poll shows Ryan with a 38 percent favorable rating among adults, while 34 percent view him unfavorably. Ryan remains unknown to about a quarter of voters.

The Republican National Convention will be held in Tampa, Fla. from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30. The Democratic National Convention will be held a week later beginning Sept. 3 in Charlotte, NC.

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