Reports: Romney selects Catholic Paul Ryan as running mate

Some weeks back I wondered, “Will Romney pick a Catholic?”  Now, all indications are that the answer is yes: 

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will announce his running mate at the beginning of a four-day, four-state bus tour in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET, his campaign announced in a statement late Friday night.

Three Republican sources told CNN that Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin would be Romney’s running mate pick. GOP sources also told CNN that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman have all been told that they won’t be getting the nod.

Romney called several of the Republicans on his vice presidential shortlist on Friday evening to tell them he has selected a running mate and to thank them for assisting with his campaign, a Republican familiar with the calls told CNN. Romney did not indicate on the calls who he had selected as his running mate, according to the source.

Three Republicans close to the Romney campaign told CNN that key staffers have been told to prepare for the rollout on Saturday morning, when Romney tours the U.S.S. Wisconsin, a museum battleship at the National Maritime Center in Norfolk.

Read more.  

The pick is not without controversy.  Ryan has said that his Catholic upbringing helped shape his budget plan, but it’s a plan that was sharply criticized by the U.S. bishops conference and analysts at Georgetown University.

But he is also solidly pro-life.

Stay tuned.

Meantime, some analysis on the choice here and here.