For Romney, one advantage of the Paul Ryan VP pick is that it moves the needle a bit in Wisconsin. Romney has said that he wants to win Ohio, Florida, Virginia and to take away a blue state.

This survey from the progressive leaning PPP poll shows Ryan making Wisconsin very competitive for the Romney campaign.

The GOP ticket campaigned there yesterday, and Ryan laid it on thick, according to National Journal:

“My veins run with cheese, bratwurst, a little Spotted Cow, Leiney’s, and some Miller. I was raised on the Packers, Badgers, Bucks and Brewers. I like to hunt here, I like to fish here, I like to snowmobile here. I even think ice fishing is interesting,” Ryan said, calling out his favorite state foods and sports teams. “I’m a Wisconsinite through and through, and I just got to tell you how much this means to be home.”

I love this localist name-dropping even when it is so transparently untrue. Does anyone believe the health-nut and P90x-loving Paul Ryan washes down Brats with Miller?

But in any case, winning Wisconsin’s 10 Electoral votes could be one of the narrowest paths to victory for Romney, assuming he is able to make Ohio, Florida, and Virginia fall his way. Then Romney could still lose New Hampshire, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, but eke out a 273-265 win in the Electoral College.