Five Reasons Paul Ryan Can Defeat President Obama

COMMENTARY | Paul Ryan, R-Wis., entered some much needed life into the GOP presidential field by not squelching a question regarding his intentions in 2012. Ryan has been in the news since April when he proposed his Path to Prosperity; a budget that served as an alternative to President Barack Obama's fiscal plan. Although Ryan's budget became unpopular because it reforms Medicare, he is someone who could spell trouble for President Obama. Here are five reasons why:

Youth. I am no ageist, but youth can translate into votes. Age became a defining factor in the 2008 presidential race when the younger Obama made John McCain appear too elderly for the arduous tasks of the presidency. Obviously, this would not be the case in 2012, as Ryan and Obama are 41 and 49, respectively. But Obama will not be able to present himself as a young, dynamic politician with a younger Ryan as his opponent.

Name Recognition. Congressmen are usually obscure figures who gain little notoriety. More than half of Americans can't even name their own congressman. Yet, Congressman Ryan has become a household name. A Pew Research poll found 53 percent of Americans couldn't name a single current Republican candidate. Donald Trump gained frontrunner status due to name recognition. A serious candidate like Ryan can take advantage of America's unfamiliarity with the current presidential contenders.

Leadership. Thomas Paine made the saying "lead, follow, or get out of the way" famous. Ryan is a man who follows Paine's advice. Whether you agree with Ryan's budget plan or not, you must give him credit for attempting to lead on an issue that threatens our nation. More importantly, Obama added to Ryan's mystique by directly engaging his budget proposal. All of the sudden, this little known congressman from Wisconsin was forcing the President of the United States to defend his fiscal policies. Ryan gave the Republican response to the State of the Union, and even gained a front row seat in April as President Obama unveiled his plain to constrain spending.

A Choice. The weak Republican field opens the door for anyone who is willing to walk through it. Tim Pawlenty's "Mr. Rogers" like character may be endearing, but he will struggle to prove that he has the stomach to sit in the Oval Office. Mitt Romney is already being put through the ringer for his support of universal health care in Massachusetts. Even if pop-culture icon Sarah Palin runs, she will not be taken seriously by her own party let alone the electorate. Ryan is assertive, intellectual and logical when he speaks. He is the chairman of the House Budget Committee at a time when economics is "the" issue in the country. Ryan can easily outshine his Republican counterparts.

Change. President Obama's 2008 slogan may suffer an identity crisis in 2012 as Republicans will now be the ones who represent change. Ryan is a clear conservative alternative to President Obama. The right will continue to point out that Obama has had a full term to heal the sickly economy, and they will say his attempts have failed. Ryan can hit Obama where it hurts, entitlements. Ryan has been candid in saying entitlements need to be reformed, while Obama has been tentative to do the same. In the world of politics, Ryan is Obama's polar opposite.

Only time will tell if Ryan will be willing to step into the ring that is the 2012 presidential election. But it would be fun to watch Ryan and Obama exchange political punches.