Conservative Republicans cautious on Ryan as House speaker

WASHINGTON - Republican right-wingers are not ready to back Representative Paul Ryan for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, an Arizona lawmaker, who belongs to the hard-right caucus that helped drive the last speaker from office, said on Wednesday.

'I'm hopeful, but you try not to jump yet,” said Arizona Representative David Schweikert, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said on National Public Radio. 'We'll find out hopefully over the next 48 hours.”

Ryan, the party's 2012 vice presidential candidate, said on Tuesday he would consider becoming speaker, but only if fractious Republicans unite behind him, among other conditions. He gave Republicans until week's end to decide.

Some of his terms could anger the conservative bloc that badgered Speaker John Boehner until he said last month he would retire. The bloc then opposed House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who bowed out of the race to replace Boehner.

The Republicans' leadership turmoil comes ahead of key deadlines facing Congress. On Nov. 3, the United States will reach its debt limit and on Dec. 11, the current federal budget to fund the government expires.

Asked if the House will be organized in time to raise the debt ceiling, Schweikert said: 'Of course. The full faith and credit of the United States will be fine. It will be protected.”

Oklahoma Republican Representative Tom Cole said on Wednesday he expects Ryan to win the support of most conservatives this week but backing on the House floor was less clear.

'What Paul's pointed out is that we just have to operate by regular order ... and work as a team,” Cole said in an interview on MSNBC television's 'Morning Joe” program.

Boehner is expected to announce later Wednesday the date for Republicans to nominate their candidate for speaker. If Ryan decides against running, Republicans could face more chaos as it is unclear who would emerge as a front-runner.

Some members of the Freedom Caucus have backed Representative Daniel Webster of Florida for speaker while another candidate, Representative Jason Chaffetz, dropped out.

Representative David Jolly, another Florida Republican, said on C-SPAN television he still endorsed Webster but that if Ryan decided to run and ultimately won the party' support in conference, he would vote for him on the House floor.