Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan has decided for a final time that he
will not run for president in 2012, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned.
Ryan, who began seriously considering a bid in late May after Indiana
governor Mitch Daniels took himself out of the race, had consulted with
top Republicans, including Karl Rove and Frank Luntz, as he contemplated
his political future. And though many of those he talked with told him
he would be a viable candidate in such a fluid race, even as a late
entry, Ryan ultimately decided to continue his focus on debt and
entitlement reform as chairman of the House Budget Committee.
"I sincerely appreciate the support from those
eager to chart a brighter future for the next generation. While humbled
by the encouragement, I have not changed my mind, and therefore I am
not seeking our party's nomination for President. I remain hopeful that
our party will nominate a candidate committed to a pro-growth agenda
of reform that restores the promise and prosperity of our exceptional
nation. I remain grateful to those I serve in Southern Wisconsin for
the unique opportunity to advance this effort in Congress."
Ryan has said publicly he is concerned that those
currently running for the GOP nomination are not addressing long-term
fiscal and economic issues in a way that makes clear the magnitude of
the challenges. He told Milwaukee talk radio host Charlie Sykes on
August 12 that he was disappointed in the presidential debate in Iowa
and thought the field needed a candidate who could articulate the need
for limited government.
“The way I see 2012 – we owe it to the country to
let them choose the path they want our country to take,” he said. “And I
just have yet to see a strong and principled articulation of the kind
of limited government, opportunity society path that we would provide as
an alternative to the Obama cradle-to-grave welfare state.”
Ryan spoke with New Jersey governor Chris Christie earlier this month and, according to four sources familiar with the call, the two men agreed on the need for Republicans to field a candidate who isn’t afraid to engage the public—and Democrats—on entitlement reform. Christie, who had given a speech chastising timid Republicans on that subject in February, told Ryan that he did not intend to run. Christie’s representatives have said the same thing in public.
Ryan spoke with New Jersey governor Chris Christie earlier this month and, according to four sources familiar with the call, the two men agreed on the need for Republicans to field a candidate who isn’t afraid to engage the public—and Democrats—on entitlement reform. Christie, who had given a speech chastising timid Republicans on that subject in February, told Ryan that he did not intend to run. Christie’s representatives have said the same thing in public.
Ryan’s comments on the Republican field came one
day before Texas governor Rick Perry announced his candidacy, though he
was widely expected to join the race. Perry’s campaign reached out to
Ryan last week and, while there is no indication Perry’s entry in the
race had any bearing on Ryan’s decision, the two men plan to meet in a
few weeks when they are both near Washington, D.C. Perry has called
Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and called for reform. That’s stronger
language than Ryan typically uses but Perry is plainly willing to raise
these previously untouchable issues.
Several sources close to Ryan tell THE WEEKLY
STANDARD they were surprised at how close he came to running. Over the
past several weeks, Ryan had talked extensively about running with
select Republican party leaders, GOP strategists, and a tight circle of
Wisconsin friends and advisers. In private meetings with fundraisers and
conservative movement leaders he expressed skepticism that he could
win, and raised concerns about the toll a race would take on his family.
But he nonetheless made clear that he was open to running.
For Ryan, being president has never been a lifelong
ambition. His consideration of a presidential bid came not because of
any desire to be president and, in many respects, came in spite of his
inclinations against one. Ryan has hoped that he might play the role of
Jack Kemp to the next Ronald Reagan.
In the end, Paul Ryan is a conviction politician.
Although he’s known for being cerebral, he makes most of his decisions
by listening to his gut. The same instincts that told him to push
forward with entitlement reform in the House Republican budget last
spring are telling him to take a pass on the presidential race.
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