Why Ryan hurts Obama campaign

If you want a quick lesson as to why picking Paul Ryan most hurts the Obama campaign, look no further than today's advancer story in the Las Vegas Review-journal.

Mitt Romney picked Ryan Saturday morning. Today, Ryan will be in Las Vegas trying to build up Romney's chances in a state that by all rights should vote Republican. (Here's a link that articulates why.)

In advance of Ryan's visit, what does the local story center on? The economy. Picking Ryan brings the conversation always back to the economy ... and that is the one thing Team Obama does not want voters to focus on. But wherever Ryan goes, the conversation will be the same.

In that way, the Ryan pick makes the Obama strategy more difficult, especially in states like Nevada where people have been hurt the most by the bad economy.

PS: This premise assumes that Ryan is not a walking gaffe machine, which would tend to take away from his economy message.

PPS: One thing we know for sure, he can't be worse when it comes to gaffes that the president and VP Biden. So, Ryan has that working for him.