Republicans choose Paul Ryan for US House speaker

US House Republicans today elected Paul Ryan, a youthful, popular and wonkish conservative, as their candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives, a move they hope will unite their fractured camp.

Republican leadership said Ryan, 45, won a closed-door election for the party's pick to replace Speaker John Boehner, who announced last month he is stepping down on October 30.

A full vote on the floor of the Republican-controlled House is scheduled for Thursday, and barring any disaster Ryan will be elevated to the most important job in Congress.