Ryan Does Not Want Job

WASHINGTON -- The head of the House Freedom Caucus that helped upend last week's planned choice of a new speaker predicted Sunday members of the rebellious group would "look favorably" on Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan for the top job. 

Ryan also won praise from more centrist representatives and even from a congressman who has announced his own campaign for speaker. But the 45-year-old chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, who spent the weekend with his family in Janesville, Wis., remained mum on whether he was willing to accept a role he had previously rejected.

The public courting of Ryan spotlighted the search by House Republicans to regain their footing after Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., unexpectedly withdrew his name from contention at a session that was expected to choose him to succeed Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Even so, the demands by Tea Party-aligned forces in the House for more decentralized power and more confrontational tactics by GOP leaders were still in evidence. 

"If he gets in the race, I think our group would look favorably on him," Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said on FoxNews Sunday. He called Ryan a "great communicator" and "the kind of messenger our party needs." 

The caucus, which has about 40 members, officially has endorsed Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., for speaker.

On ABC's This Week, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who is running for speaker himself, said Ryan "checks every box." Chaffetz called Ryan "a visionary" who "understand the institution."

On CNN's State of the Union, Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., an ally of Boehner, said he hoped Ryan would decide to run.    Read More: