SC Republicans 'Thrilled' With Paul Ryan VP Pick

South Carolina Republicans that Patch has spoken to on Saturday are excited about the choice of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as vice presidential nominee.

"This is going to be an exciting ticket — one that Republicans can enthusiastically get behind and endorse," said Taft Matney, a Greenville-area political consultant.

"We're about to see the 2012 presidential campaign kick up to a whole new level."

Gov. Nikki Haley, long-rumored to be under consideration for the VP position, responded on this morning on her Facebook page:

"WE now officially have a Dream Team of solutions: Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan! Both of these men understand its (sic) not about complaining and blaming, but producing results for the people of our great country. The race is on: Romney/Ryan vs Obama/Biden."

Karen Martin, a Spartanburg GOP precinct officer and organizer of the local Tea Party, said Ryan and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio were her top choices.

But Ryan is a better pick, Martin said, because he will not leave as big of a hole in the Senate as Rubio.

She said Ryan is a "clear leader," who "led on the budget issue and, most importantly, the entitlement issue, when no one else would."

“South Carolina Republicans are thrilled with the Romney-Ryan ticket to restore America," said SCGOP chairman Chad Connelly in a Saturday morning press release.

"Paul Ryan’s energy, ideas, and detailed knowledge of the federal budget are the perfect background for taking on Barack Obama’s failed policies on jobs and the economy. Paul Ryan will make America proud as the next Vice President.”

There are several demographics that Ryan's choice helps with, Martin said, including Catholics and Midwesterners.

The downsides, according to Martin, are that he voted for TARP (something she is willing to overlook) and that he's "unlikely" to challenge Romney in 2016.