Ryan telling GOPers he's unlikely to run (WI)

Politico ^ | May 16, 2011 | David Catanese

[Clintonfatigued]

Rep. Paul Ryan is reaching out to potential Senate candidates in Wisconsin, informing them he's unlikely to run for Herb Kohl's seat next year, according to two sources familiar with the conversations.

The House Budget Committee chairman, who was in Chicago Monday defending his polarizing debt reduction plan in front of the city's Economic Club, told one prospective candidate he was "leaning heavily against a run," an adviser confirmed to POLITICO.

Another consultant said that the congressman conveyed he was "95 percent sure" he would not enter the race for the open seat.

That percentage, of course, leaves him a bit of wiggle room, and one source stressed it "wasn't a guarantee," but the message being sent was clear.

Ryan has said he would make his decision public this week to avoid speculation hanging over the state convention this Saturday. But one source said the announcement could come as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday to remove lingering doubts and free up other candidates to begin organizing bids.

There's widespread agreement in GOP circles that Ryan would be the only candidate who could clear the primary field, but Democrats will likely have to navigate an intraparty battle as well.

A spokesman for Ryan did not immediately return an inquiry seeking comment.

[RightFighter]

That might be because he’s running for something bigger.

[Clintonfatigued]

I’m not surprised by this and we’ll probably be hearing the official decision very soon.

[fightinJAG]

We need Paul Ryan to be able to focus almost all his energy on understanding, proposing and selling his budget reform and associated issues.

I would love to see him run for a “higher” office, but at the same time I know very well (not as well as he does, though!) that campaigning, fundraising, political mudslinging — all it would do is take away precious mental focus, physical energy and broadcast minutes at an absolutely critical period in Ryan, and the nation’s, life.

He’s doing the work of history right where he is and I’m happy he, apparently, is not going to let anything distract him from an already daunting mission.

[Cicero]

It would be absolutely great to see a politician who actually wants to FINISH THE ESSENTIAL JOB HE’S DOING before moving on to the next one!

[UB355]

Ryan’s plan is not polarizing, politicos authors are polarizing.

[GOPsterinMA]

He’s better off in the House.

Too bad he was for TARP, otherwise, he’d be a great POTUS candidate.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Clintonfatigued. The partisan media scumbag at Politico writes:

...was in Chicago Monday defending his polarizing debt reduction plan...

[xjcsa]

Thank God. We don’t need any more right-wing social engineering. (dripping Gingrich-is-an-idiot sarcasm)

[UB355]

My local Fox tv station just used this as a basis for a story on local newcast. Journalism is dead.

[RicocheT]

Rep. Ryan’s district, W-1st, has Janesville,Racine & Kenosha, three of Wisconsin’s economically distressed cities (Milwaukee and Beloit are also distressed, but in other distr.), so a vote for TARP under Bush 2.0 was a political necessity. He has a great idea now for the budget and no other likely GOP could get it to the voters better than Ryan.

[GOPsterinMA]

RE: TARP. I see.

I like Ryan a lot, I think he’d do well as a POTUS candidate, except I see TARP coming up.

[proudpapa]

Michelle Litjens!!!

[Impy]

I disagree, Ryan would have won easily whether he voted for tarp or not.

[MomwithHope]

I hope it's because he will run for president. In looking at who we have that can beat Obama I am thinking he could be the only one. It's the economy and who else could hit him harder than Ryan. He knows it inside and out.
I do like West and Cain and Palin and Bachman. Rubio is not eligible. West has an edge over the rest beacuse of national security and he is more of a man than Obama. Heck for that matter so is Sara - no offense intended.