White House race – Ryan’s plans would terrify Euro liberals

As the gold-dust settles on one four-year cycle — the London Olympiad — another — the American presidential race — intensifies as its Nov 6 day-of-reckoning approaches.

Last week’s announcement by Republican candidate Mitt Romney that Wisconsin’s Paul Ryan would be his running mate offers Americans the option of voting for a ticket more radically, uncompromisingly conservative than any in living memory.

But, as ever, election campaigns confer a transient truth on policies that are often forgotten once the desired result has been achieved. Already Romney has insisted that his budget policies, not Ryan’s, will prevail should he defy the polls and oust President Obama.