WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who picked Sarah Palin as his Republican running mate four years ago says Paul Ryan is another bold choice.

John McCain said Sunday that the goal in selecting a running mate is to help the nominee win and pick someone who would make a good vice president.

McCain said he's "still proud of my running mate" — the former Alaska governor whose run for vice president helped boost his campaign initially, but has received mixed reviews even from some Republicans since then. The Arizona senator said Mitt Romney's selection of Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, was "a bold choice as well." He praised Ryan's "intimate knowledge of the budget."