In Florida, the announcement that U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan would run alongside presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been hailed by Republicans as much as it has been assailed by Democrats.

“Paul Ryan is a courageous reformer who understands our nation’s challenges, has proposed bold policy solutions to solve them and has shown the courage to stand up to President Obama and other Washington politicians trying to tear him down. The Romney-Ryan ticket is going to win in November because it offers the American people visionary leadership to recapture the free enterprise spirit that has empowered countless Americans to build businesses from scratch and live the American dream. I’m excited about the visionary change a Romney-Ryan team will bring to Washington, and I look forward to campaigning with them this fall.” — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio

“The American middle-class and our seniors cannot afford to go back to the failed policies of the past, and it is unconscionable to ask them to foot the bill for the Romney-Ryan scheme. A Romney-Ryan ticket is sure to take us back and repeat the same catastrophic mistakes that got us into the mess we found ourselves in in the first place.” — Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

“As he did with the Olympics, and so many time in the private sector turning despair into success, Mitt Romney has again used his talents to make the right, critical choice at a critical hour for our nation. Paul Ryan understands the priorities needed to put our nation back on the road to more freedom, less government and renewed prosperity. I have known and worked with Paul Ryan since being elected to the Congress and was outraged time and again when his ideas to move our nation forward were killed by a liberal Senate. Now our party can give him the right platform and a Senate that will no longer be flawed and unworkable. With great pride, we all unite today behind the Romney-Ryan ticket.” — U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV

“I applaud Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his Vice Presidential running mate. Congressman Ryan’s command of economic policy and the federal budget will prove invaluable as Governor Romney fights to reform government, accelerate job growth and rein in the out-of-control spending that has been a hallmark of President Obama’s years in office. This courageous choice is the type of leadership American voters deserve. And, I believe it will ensure a victory for the Romney-Ryan ticket this November.” — Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush

“I congratulate Governor Mitt Romney for making a superb choice in picking my colleague Paul Ryan as his nominee for Vice President. Like few leaders in Washington, Paul Ryan had the courage to put forth a plan that saves Medicare and Social Security. He has a hopeful, optimistic vision for the future of our country, and he’s ready to lead on the important choices we need to make to expand prosperity to all Americans. On the issue close to the Cuban American community, Paul is with us on being firm against the Castro dictatorship. Paul has spent time learning the true nature of the Castro Regime, and unlike the Obama-Biden Administration, which has appeased and emboldened the Castro Regime, the Cuba policy of a Romney-Ryan administration will be clear: no accommodation, no appeasement. A Romney-Ryan administration will place maximum sanctions pressure on the regime and support the brave pro-democracy movement on the island.” — U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

“The selection of Paul Ryan this morning makes the choice for voters in November even more stark. Allen West has been the #1 champion for Paul Ryan’s Medicare-ending, education-slashing budget in Congress, proudly voting for it twice and saying it would be “suicide” to oppose. If the two of them take the helm in Washington, expect an end to Medicare as we know it and thousands in additional medical costs for Florida seniors.” — Democratic Congressional District 18 Candidate Patrick Murphy

“I am pleased to congratulate my colleague, Congressman Paul Ryan, on being selected to join Mitt Romney on the road to the White House as his Vice Presidential running-mate. As I have always said, I will wholeheartedly support the Republican candidates, and with true fiscal conservative Paul Ryan, on the ticket, I am particularly pleased to do so. Congressman Ryan has a deep understanding of the fiscal challenges facing our nation in both the short and long term. He has consistently provided realistic, actionable solutions that will keep our promises to our seniors while putting our economy back on the “Road to Prosperity.” Unlike President Obama, he put forward a serious budget. The damaging economic policies of President Obama’s administration have left Americans with unemployment at or above 8% for 42 months and they are now facing the largest tax increase in history. His foreign policies have emboldened our enemies and left our allies vulnerable. Our nation cannot afford to continue down this destructive path which seeks to wed more Americans to government handouts, saddles our children and grandchildren with insurmountable debt, weakens our defenses at home and abroad, and turns Americans against each other. President Romney and Vice President Ryan will put our nation back on a course of economic freedom and equality of opportunity for all Americans. The combination of Mitt Romney’s successful record in business and government, and Paul Ryan’s legislative experience and willingness to lead on pressing fiscal problems is just the recipe to get America back on the right path. President Mitt Romney and Vice President Paul Ryan are what we need to begin restoring the greatness of our Constitutional Republic.” — U.S. Rep. Allen West

“In selecting Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has crystalized the contrast of this election. Ryan is the architect of Romney’s extreme budget plan which would end Medicare as we know it, increasing the healthcare costs for Florida’s senior’s by thousands every year. And both Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney support trillions in budget-busting tax cuts for millionaires paid for with tax hikes on the middle class and deep cuts in education and other investments we need to grow our economy. Both Romney and Ryan share a vision for America where the wealthiest few are prioritized over the middle class, students and seniors — that’s not a vision which will move our state or country forward, and it is a vision which Floridians will whole-heartedly reject.” — Florida Democratic Party Chair Rod Smith

“Mitt Romney chose a strong partner in my friend Paul Ryan. While in Congress, Paul Ryan has worked tirelessly to rein in federal spending and increase accountability for government programs. His conservative ideals and proven track record make him the ultimate choice for Mitt Romney’s running mate and America’s future Vice President.” — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam

– Alex Sanz

Tags | Alex Sanz, Allen West, Barack Obama, Connie Mack, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, jeb bush, Joe Biden, marco rubio, Mitt Romney, Patrick Murphy, Paul Ryan