‘Count Me Out,’ Ryan Says of GOP Presidential Bid
The speaker again says those who campaign for it should be considered for the job
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan emphatically ruled himself out of the 2016 presidential race on Tuesday, saying again that he is not interested in becoming the GOP standard-bearer.
“I do not want, nor will I accept the Republican nomination” for president, Ryan said at the Republican National Committee.
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“So let me speak directly to the delegates on this: If no candidate has a majority on the first ballot, I believe you should only choose a person who actually participated in the primary. Count me out,” he said of the GOP convention taking place in Cleveland in July.
“I simply believe that if you want to be the nominee — to be the president — you should actually run for it. I chose not to. Therefore, I should not be considered. Period.”
The Wisconsin lawmaker and 2012 vice presidential nominee has been touted as a possible alternative in case of a contested or brokered convention but he has consistently said he is not interested .
Also see: Ryan Says He’s Really, Really, Really Not Running for President
Contact Garcia at EricGarcia@cqrollcall.com and follow him on Twitter @EricMGarcia .
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