Paul Ryan Is Ready to Run for Speaker, But…

Paul Ryan is officially ready to run to succeed John Boehner as Speaker of the House, but with conditions:

Paul Ryan basically says he'll only be speaker if the freedom caucus relinquishes the power to depose him–the lion's share of its power.

— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) October 20, 2015

.@RepPaulRyan says he'll run for Speaker on Friday — if he's assured of support from full GOP conference. If not, it's a no go.

— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) October 20, 2015

Yup, White Smoke with conditions and a hope to have all groups unify behind him this week. #RunPaulRun

— Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) October 20, 2015

Key quotes from Ryan, according to several Rs who were in the room: “I’m willing to take arrows in the chest but not in the back… "

— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 21, 2015

Another Ryan line from mtg, per Rs there: “I don’t want to be the third log on the bonfire,” a reference to Boehner and McCarthy

— Robert Costa (@costareports) October 21, 2015

Essentially, Ryan wants to make sure that he will have support from various factions of House Republicans, including the House Freedom Caucus––the group that withheld its support of Kevin McCarthy––before officially getting into the race.

Jason Chaffetz, who announced his run for Speaker weeks ago, has dropped out and rallied behind Ryan:

I am out and supporting @RepPaulRyan for Speaker. Right person at the right time.

— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 20, 2015

Ryan’s office put out a statement laying out his conditions and saying he wants to be a “unifying figure,’ otherwise it’s not happening:

Paul Ryan spox statement on what he told fellow GOPers tonight re running for Speaker of the House pic.twitter.com/Iyd9alyx1E

— Jon Ward (@jonward11) October 21, 2015

UPDATE –– 8:47 pm EST: Ryan held a press conference after the closed-door GOP meeting to explain his decision and conditions. Watch here, via CNN:

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac