Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin congressman and 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee, tells NBC’s Alex Moe that he will not seek the presidency in 2016:
“It is amazing the amount of encouragement I have gotten from people – from friends and supporters – but I feel like I am in a position to make a big difference where I am and I want to do that,” he said.
Ryan’s decision comes just days after his former running mate Mitt Romney told supporters that he’s considering another presidential run.
“It is no secret that I have always thought Mitt would make a great president,” Ryan told NBC. “As for his plans for 2016, I don’t know what he is ultimately going to do and the last thing I want to do is get ahead of his own decision making process.” But the person who likely benefits most from Ryan’s decision is Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor who will have an easier time carving out his own niche among the 2016 contenders without another prominent conservative from his home state in the race.
