House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) says he’d like to see Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) join the Republican 2012 presidential field.
“Paul Ryan is about real leadership,” he told reporters Monday. “I think what this public so desperately wants to do right now…they want to see a Washington that will lead. They don’t want to see individuals that dismiss the current problems as something that we can just sweep under the rug.”
He said the current GOP field consisted of “strong candidates” but pointed out that there is still plenty of time left in the process.
Regardless of whether Ryan runs (he’s repeatedly and insistently denied the possibility), Cantor said he’d like to see the other candidates comes out in support of Ryan’s budget. “I’m looking for them to embrace our formula in the Ryan budget,” he said. “I’m looking for them to embrace a leadership role that takes the tough positions, that’s all.”
“To those who have criticized the proposals in Ryan’s budget, where is your plan?” Cantor added.