As Republican hardliners express their resistance to having House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as their speaker, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) has stepped up to give a speech in support of McCarthy at Thursday’s nominating conference, Politico reported.
The 40-or-so member House Freedom Caucus has endorsed McCarthy’s challenger, Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL). Although Webster is viewed as a long-shot in today’s nomination conference, which is only among Republicans, the conservative group’s refusal to support McCarthy could pose a problem once the speaker voter hits the full floor, where the GOP nominee will need 218 votes to become speaker.
The move to have Ryan make a speech in favor of McCarthy Thursday is viewed as an effort to shore up conservative support.