Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said House Speaker Paul Ryan’s political career is likely over after he said last week he wasn’t quite ready to support Donald Trump’s candidacy. “His political career is over but for a miracle because he has so disrespected the will of the people,” Palin said on CNN’s State of the Union. The former vice presidential candidate said she’ll do everything she can to support Ryan’s challenger in the Wisconsin primary. “I think Paul Ryan is soon to be Cantored, as in Eric Cantor,” she said, in reference to former Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s 2014 primary loss.
Palin said she still hasn’t spoken to businessman Paul Nehlen, who is challenging Ryan in the Aug. 9 primary. But Nehlen was clearly excited by the news, retweeting several links to Palin’s interview on CNN. “This man is a hard-working guy, so in touch with the people,” Palin said. “Paul Ryan and his ilk, their problem is they have become so disconnected by the people whom they are elected to represent.”
John McCain’s running mate said that the reason why Ryan is hesitating to support Trump is because of his own presidential ambitions. “If the GOP were to win now, that wouldn’t bode well for his chances in 2020, and that’s what he’s shooting for,” Palin said.
Trump for his part said that he was “blindsided” by Ryan’s non-endorsement. “Yeah, I was blindsided a little bit, because he spoke to me three weeks ago, and it was a very nice call, a very encouraging call,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press. “And then all of a sudden, he gets on and he does this number,” Trump added. “So I’m not exactly sure what he has in mind. But that’s OK.”
Although Palin suggested she could be open to the idea of being Trump’s running mate, she also recognized that she likely wouldn’t be the best pick. “I want to help and not hurt, and I am such a realist that I realize there are a whole lot of people out there who would say, ‘Anybody but Palin.’ I wouldn’t want to be a burden on the ticket, and I realize in many, many eyes, I would be that burden,” the former governor said.
