Freedom Caucus backs Ryan without endorsing
Boehner confident support will be there
Rep. Paul Ryan has not yet been able to secure an official endorsement from House conservatives for his bid for speaker, despite winning a majority of support from the arch-conservative Freedom Caucus.
“I think Paul is going to get the support that he is looking for,” House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday after a meeting of House Republicans. Boehner announced that Republicans will choose a new speaker next week.
After a meeting with the Freedom Caucus on Wednesday, Ryan shrugged off questions about whether he had won the group’s endorsement.
“We had a nice meeting, a good chat,” Ryan said.
Members of the Freedom Caucus said later Wednesday that it is supporting Ryan, but held off on an official endorsement because it couldn’t muster the 80% agreement such an announcement would require, the Associated Press reported.
Ryan said Tuesday he will run for the top leadership job if he gets support of all GOP factions. The Wisconsin Republican gave his colleagues until Friday to decide whether they can back him.