Revealed: How Romney's family encouraged him to pick Ryan

According to people close to the family and campaign, Ann Romney and the most politically engaged of the brothers were early advocates for Ryan to join the ticket, having grown friendly with him and his wife over the course of the summer’s vetting process. Mrs. Romney and Janna Ryan “got along famously” as they got to know each other, said one source, while Tagg Romney — an increasingly crucial adviser to his father this year — grew to like and respect Ryan as he crossed paths with him on the campaign trail.

Romney, who has long trusted his wife’s “people instincts,” gave substantial weight to her endorsement, which, combined with his own personal preference for Ryan, was enough to overrule his advisers’ concerns, said one source…

One senior aide to Romney’s 1994 Senate campaign who remained close to the family for years after said Mrs. Romney has always been the candidate’s “number one sounding board.” And a family friend who is in regular contact with the Romneys today told BuzzFeed, “In the final analysis, if Ann actually felt very strongly against something, she would generally get the last vote, even if the campaign said, ‘Do it.'”