Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has been listening to many Members who are trying to draft him to challenge Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), but has not made calls himself to gauge support for a bid.
He is not reaching out to others, simply hearing from those reaching out to him, said Ryans spokesman Conor Sweeney.
A band of insurgent GOP Members have been agitating for new leadership and see Ryan as the only person with the potential to defeat Boehner, who has said he will seek another two-year term. Ryan has repeatedly said he does not want to be in leadership.
Boehner has been maneuvering for months to hold on to his post, and is in the midst of trying to shape a new team under him, throwing his weight behind conservative Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.) as the next Republican Conference chairman and Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas) as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
