At 11:51, in a story titled, "Paul Ryan pick is less popular than Palin, Cheney selections, poll shows," the Washington Post reported:

Rep. Paul Ryan starts his vice presidential campaign in not-so-great territory, with Americans rating his selection more unfavorably than any pick since at least 2000, according to a new poll.

Nine minutes later, in story titled, "Positive views of Ryan jump higher after pick," the Washington Post reported:

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan — the freshly minted Republican vice presidential candidate — got an immediate ratings boost in the wake of his selection as Mitt Romney’s running-mate, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Hmm. Seems a bit contradictory.

In the first poll, however, it's worth noting which vice presidential pick got the highest rating: In 2004, 64 percent believed John Kerry's selection of John Edwards to be his running mate was an "excellent" or "pretty good" choice. 

In the second story, the Washington Post claims Ryan is getting more popular as people get to know him better, which might explain the difference between this poll and the initial reaction poll from the first story.: "Overall, in interviews after his selection, 38 percent of all Americans express favorable views of Ryan, 33 percent negative ones. (Before the the announcement, Ryan was somewhat underwater, scoring 23 percent favorable, 32 unfavorable.) The most recent national numbers on Vice President Joe Biden are from a July Pew Research Center poll showing a split decision, 40 percent favorable, 37 percent unfavorable."