Paul Ryan won’t endorse in presidential primary

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) plans to stay neutral in the 2016 GOP presidential primary now that Mitt Romney isn’t running.

{mosads}Ryan told NBC News that he will not endorse a candidate because of his position as head of the Republican National Committee’s presidential trust, though he indicated that he might have endorsed his former running mate.

“Had Mitt jumped in, I think that would have changed circumstances. But since I’m the chair of this trust, chair of the fund to get ready for the eventual nominee, that requires my neutrality,” he said.

The comments are notable, since Romney isn’t Ryan’s only friend in the field. Ryan is close to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), and House Republicans tell The Hill he often praises his home-state ally.