People and the media are still preoccupied with the Olympics. There's all the time between now and the Convention for the media and hostile Republicans to come up with dirt on Ryan, the proceedings in Tampa will have no surprises, nothing to look forward to, no mellerdrammer, no suspense. Why did he do this now, on a weekend?

And why Ryan? He will certainly help with the wingnut vote, where Mitt is weak. But what about all the moderate voters who might be alienated by a fire-breathing conservative who has gone on record with a plan for gutting entitlements. That will not go well with the geezer vote.

I'm sure Mitt had his reasons for this particular calculation, but the timing of the announcement, premature as it seems to me, suggests the Bain/tax return attacks are scoring hits below the waterline, and His Mittship is taking on water.