Paul Ryan pledges to lift American economy alongside Mitt Romney

Paul Ryan vowed on Wednesday that he and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would make the tough decisions required to turnaround the U.S. economy, generate jobs and decrease debt.

Ryan accepted his nomination as Romney's running mate at the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida.

A fiscal conservative, Ryan said the November 6 polls would offer voters "the clearest possible choice" over how to boost the waning economy.

"Before the math and the momentum overwhelm us all, we are going to solve this nation's economic problems," Ryan said in a speech that introduced the lesser-known Wisconsin congressman to voters.

"We will not duck the tough issues - we will lead. We will not spend four years blaming others - we will take responsibility," he said. "So here's the question: Without a change in leadership, why would the next four years be any different from the last four years?"

Ryan attracted cheers from delegates as he promised to challenge President Barack Obama's economic policies

Romney's selection of Ryan, chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, has revived party conservatives and placed put Ryan's proposed changes to the popular healthcare program Medicare at the center of the campaign debate.

Ryan's budget plan would include curbing government spending and move some Medicare participants into private insurance plans purchased with the help of government subsidies.

After the second full day of the convention, a Reuters/Ipsos online poll showed Romney at par with President Barack Obama among likely voters at 43 percent each, an improvement for the Republican from his Democratic rival’s two-point lead on Tuesday and four-point lead on Monday.