Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan wants to talk policy. Mitt Romney's team wants his No. 2 to focus more on his immigrant family and small-town values.

Romney is certain to win out as the Wisconsin congressman _ who made a name for himself with an austere vision of government spending on social programs for the elderly and poor _ accepts the vice presidential nomination of his party Wednesday night.

Ryan will deliver a speech to thousands of delegates at the Republican convention and millions of viewers watching from home that is likely to be heavy on personality and lighter on policy.

Romney's choice of Ryan suggested he had accepted the arguments of powerful conservative forces who felt he could not capture the White House in the November election by portraying himself as a successful businessman with sweeping but vague outlines for economic recovery. But mindful of just how controversial Ryan's views are among centrists, Romney has tried to keep his distance from his agenda.

Ryan's willingness to focus on his personal story and play down policy is the latest example that of him deferring to Romney's preferences. As Ryan puts it, Romney is "the boss."

Ryan and his team, a mix of longtime aides and new advisers, have spent a chunk of the past few weeks writing _ and re-writing _ the speech.

"Words matter a lot and I'm putting a lot of effort into them," said Ryan, a former speechwriter to 1996 vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp and former Education Secretary William Bennett.

Early versions were scrapped and adjusted to include bits of Ryan's natural, easygoing speaking style. In between campaign events and daily workouts, Ryan has been working to put his own voice into the drafts.

At campaign events, Ryan has tended to favor policy over his personal story. From Ohio to Virginia to Florida, he talks more often about the U.S. debt and deficit than his own life as a congressional aide who became a congressman at age 28. The 42-year-old is more comfortable citing Congressional Budget Office statistics than real people.

Romney's aides want that to change. Advisers are pushing Ryan toward more personal territory.

The hope among Romney's team is that Americans get to know Ryan's story, one they say working-class voters could relate to. Left unsaid is the fact that Ryan's policy positions, specifically his controversial budget proposals, have caused headaches for Romney and dominated the storyline of the campaign since he was named the running mate.

A message of small-town values and self-reliance is set to play a prominent role in his speech.

Ryan offered a preview of that message Monday at the Wisconsin high school where he cheered for classmates two decades ago. He spoke of his ancestors' journey in the 1850s from Ireland to Wisconsin. Reflecting on more recent history, Ryan spoke of his time in the town when he said neighbors took care of each other.

He will likely speak about the economic troubles that have hit Janesville, a city that has become synonymous with Ryan's Midwestern appeal. On Monday, he said the city's response to the rough economy is what the United States should do on a grand scale.

Aides are seeking to lower expectations, saying not to expect a blockbuster speech like the one 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin delivered. Instead, Ryan is likely to paint a picture of himself as a reasonable governing partner for Romney.