A huge change came for the GOP’s 2016 presidential aspects on Monday when Paul Ryan, the party’s last vice presidential nominee, bowed out. This comes as Mitt Romney moves closer to his third presidential campaign and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie makes more preparations for his first.
Republican officials from all across the nation are currently preparing to gather in San Diego this week to finalize an election calendar that will include the first debates of the campaign this summer.
Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman and close Romney ally, thanked those who encouraged him to seek the presidency, but announced that he wanted to instead focus all of his attention on his new role as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
“I’m ready to get on with my job, and I’m excited about what’s ahead,” Ryan said in an interview at the Capitol.
Ryan had been among those received a personal telephone call from Romney over the weekend in order to gauge their support for a third campaign. If Romney were to pursue his third campaign for the presidential nomination, it would be the first return engagement of a losing major party nominee in decades.
According to top Republican staffers, Romney is starting to make serious moves towards another campaign. He and his wife, Ann, had begun reaching out to potential supporters.
“We had a great conversation. He made it clear to me he is seriously considering the race,” said Jim Merrill, a top Romney staffer in New Hampshire during the 2008 and 2012 campaigns. “When you get a phone call like that at close to 9 on a Saturday night, it means something.”
Romney had also called many significant Republican politicians, including Ryan, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte and the state’s former governor, John Sununu.
Former New Hampshire volunteer Chris Wolfe expressed interest in supporting Romney’s third bid. “All we’re really waiting for is somebody to pull the trigger and say, ‘We’re in.’”
