Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Tuesday that he believes Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) will make an announcement as soon as tonight regarding whether he will run to replace current Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).
“I believe he’s going to make his announcement tonight,” Gingrich told Breitbart News.
Gingrich was in San Diego for a book signing with his wife, Callista.
In his speech to a packed room, Gingrich indicated that he thought Ryan could be a good choice for Speaker, but only if he listens very carefully to what the Republican Party and the country want. He said people are not dumb–that they are “enraged” and want “real change.”
Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck re-confirmed last Wednesday to Matthew Boyle of Breitbart News that Ryan would not be running to replace Boehner, despite speculations and pressure from the political establishment. “His position has not changed, and I cannot predict if it will,” Buck wrote to Boyle.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) was recently quoted in Politico as indicating there would be “major intraparty battle over immigration if Paul comes forward….A majority of the conference is on my side of this argument.” King has been supporting Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) for the Speakership.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) went on record on the Breitbart News Sunday radio program saying that he believed Boehner would remain Speaker until 2017, despite Boehner’s assertion that he will step down. The Freedom Caucus member said, “Boehner will stay on as Speaker until an establishment-type candidate can succeed or replace him.”
Brooks advocated for a more conservative, non-establishment choice, but indicated, “Clearly, the majority of the House Republican Conference is liberal and/or establishment. They perceive conservatives and conservative values as an anathema because we tend to do things based on conservative principles, and they tend to do things based on other principles or the desire for money.”
When Breitbart News asked Tuesday about a potential run by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Gingrich responded positively and indicated that she was also a good contender.
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