Snap Poll: Romney's VP Pick Helps Obama-Biden Ticket With Seniors

 Mitt Romney's selection of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as the GOP's Vice Presidential nominee in the fall, Democrats appear to be licking their chops over the prospects.

That appears to be one of the major takeaways from a snap poll conducted by Patch over the weekend after Ryan was introduced as part of the Republican Party's Presidential ticket.

Patch asked more than 50 Democrats to weigh in on the choice and received 23 responses.

When asked if by adding Ryan to the ticket, Missouri Democrats can win by running against Ryan's existing budget plans and particularly his proposal for Medicare, more than 91 percent agreed in some form.

Ryan, as chairman of the House Budget Committee, has backed a budget plan, which proposes large changes to Medicare, Medicaid and tax rates.

"The Ryan budget can be sold as a very radical plan that significantly reduces the Feds support of some very popular programs. By attacking this budget they attack the ticket and punish them both in the eyes of those most concerned about certain entitlements and fed programs people have grown accustomed to," wrote one respondent.

"His selection will anchor seniors and independents to the Obama side," said another.

It could make for an interesting Vice Presidential debate, another offered:

"The Obama team will have a challenge questioning Ryan on his proposals since he has a well thought out plan to face the bulging deficits. I can hear him posing a "what would you do" face off question when he debates Vice-President Biden."

But whether the choice is enough to put the Show-Me State back into play as a swing state in November is still an open question among Patch panelists, as laid out by their comments:

• "Ryan is too conservative for Missouri"
• "Missouri is a Republican state and this pick doesn't move the needle for either camp."
• "Ryan will strengthen the position of the Republican Party in Missouri and make the state's conservatives even more determined. The real question is how will elderly voters, who lean conservative, feel about his Medicare proposals."
• It helps McCaskill contrast with Akin and highlight extremism

Only one respondent made reference to the last GOP nominee for Vice President.

"He (Ryan) is smart, relatively well known and well spoken. He is a breath of fresh air, I am sure, after the debacle that was Sarah Palin," the person said.

"I have not spoken to my Republican friends about the pick but I would imagine most will like Romney's pick. So do I and that might give them some pause!" they continued.

What do you think--will the Ryan pick make a difference in Missouri?