House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday told an evening news program he expected Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan to announce tonight whether he plans to run to succeed him.
But the Ryan camp is denying it.
“I don’t expect a final decision tonight,” Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck said after Boehner’s appearance on “Fox News Special Report.”
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Boehner told the show he did not know whether Ryan planned to run for speaker, but believes that he could earn the 218 votes needed to win if he decided to seek the post.
“Paul, I believe, will have an announcement later on this evening,” Boehner said on the show. “I’m not sure what that announcement will be.”
Ryan Tuesday talked to the conservative House Freedom Caucus and later plans to address the entire Republican conference at a closed-door meeting that will take place following evening votes. Ryan would need Freedom Caucus support to win the speaker’s gavel.
Boehner wants to step down Oct. 30. He said he believes his successor will be chosen by then.
“I think Paul would be a great speaker, he’s got the skills to do the job,” Boehner said, adding that he also would have the ability to reach out to conservatives and “bridge the gap we have today.”
