U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has “endorsed” Donald J. Trump’s candidacy for president of the United States.
Will it put the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s bid over the top? Will it ensure victory in November?
Consider just how Ryan framed his endorsement.
Ryan acknowledged many differences with Trump on policy; he said he wants Trump to change his campaign tone; he didn’t vow to campaign with Trump; he acknowledged that friends encouraged him to withhold his support.
The speaker is going to vote for Trump. So, the combative GOP nominee-to-be will have Ryan’s ballot box endorsement.
Trump and Ryan have said they barely know each other. They’ve met and had what was called a “cordial” discussion about policy and other political matters.
It’s interesting, though, that Trump’s bluster and bravado seems to at odds with the kind of policy discussion that Ryan seems to want from his party’s presumed presidential nominee.
Do you remember how Trump all but threatened the speaker if Ryan doesn’t treat Trump the right way? I guess no one had yet told Trump that the speaker of the House packs way more political punch than a presidential nominee.
But, hey, shouldn’t the Republicans’ leading candidate for president have known that already?
The Ryan endorsement wasn’t a surprise.
The biggest calculation, though, might be in whether the speaker now will be able to deliver his home state of Wisconsin to the Republican nominee this fall.
Hmmm. Well, Ryan himself — as the party’s vice-presidential nominee in 2012 — couldn’t deliver Wisconsin to the GOP ticket led by Mitt Romney.
This much now appears certain: Ryan endorsement of the GOP nominee likely has sounded the death knell for the “never Trump” movement.
Oh, and what about Mitt Romney? He’s not supporting Trump.
Let’s get on with this campaign.