Governors Heap Praise on Paul Ryan's Possible Presidential Bid -- By Alicia M. Cohn, The Hill

Gov. Scott Walker would "love" to see fellow Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan run for president, Walker said Wednesday night.

"I would love to see him run," Walker told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren. "I hope he's at least serious about reconsidering it, because I think there's a lot of people across America who would love to see him on the ticket."

Rumors circulated earlier in the week that Ryan might not have ruled out a presidential bid in 2012. Republican strategist Karl Rove named Ryan as another possible candidate and the conservative Weekly Standard magazine reported sources close to Ryan claimed the House Budget Committee chairman was "seriously considering" a run.

Ryan's spokesman denied the report on Tuesday, but Ryan quickly accrued a great deal of public support following the report. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who explored the possibility of a presidential run himself earlier this year, had only good things to say about Ryan's possible presidential bid Thursday on CSPAN, and said he very well might support him if he joined the race.

Both Walker and Daniels praised Ryan as s "courageous" leader.

"His is a very important voice, whether he gets in or doesn't," Daniels said.

Walker also employed a phrase President Obama has been using this week on the road during his three-day economic bus tour. "We need people who worry more about the next generation than they do about the next election," Walker said. "That's exactly what you'd get out of Paul Ryan."

Walker added, "I think right now it is still highly unlikely" that Ryan would run for president.

"I think there are other good candidates out there," Walker said. "Obviously, I would have a personal preference to Paul Ryan, just because I think so much of him."

Walker had good things to say about Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) as well as former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but said "in the end" he has a "bias" towards supporting a former governor for president.

"If the issue is jobs, you've got two governors who have good track records," said Walker, who is a polarizing political figure due to taking a strong stance in his state on labor issues. "I've worked most closely with Rick Perry, and seen the success he's had in Texas."

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