I have already gone on record saying that the Romney campaign has not been mean and tough enough. The Obama crowd, which knows it is important to define an opposing candidate in a negative light before the candidate really gets to introduce himself to the public, has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at both Romney and Paul Ryan to accomplish that goal. There is now some evidence that the Romney camp and its supporters are getting more aggressive in their efforts to define President Obama.

But while they have not reached the butt-kicking Lee Atwater take-no-prisoners effort of years past, the GOP and the Romney campaign are starting to show that they can run a campaign rough enough to keep up with Obama’s shady Chicago crowd.

The pick of Ryan, while perhaps not the best strategic choice, nevertheless brings a brawler into the GOP effort. Ryan has never hesitated to take the president to task, whether on talk shows or face to face in open forums.