Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the chairman of the Republican-led House Budget Committee, endorsed presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, in an interview Friday morning on Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends.
Ryan said Romney is the best suited candidate to defeat President Barack Obama in the general election.
Ryan went on to say that he had spent a decent amount of time with Romney and is convinced that the former Massachusetts governor has "the skills, principle, courage, and tenacity to do what it takes to get America back on track."
He also highlighted the fact that "the primary could enter a phase when it becomes counterproductive if this drags on much longer."
Wisconsin's Republican primary is Tuesday.
Ryan is the author of the House Republican budget that proposes to slash federal spending and shrink government. While the plan is doomed in the Democratic-controlled Senate, it sets out the GOP's fiscal priorities. Romney has endorsed it.
His announcement marks the third high-profile endorsement for Romney in two days following former President George H.W. Bush and Florida Rep. Marco Rubio.
Ryan has downplayed speculation that he could be picked as the Republican vice presidential candidate, but he has said he would consider the offer if asked.
Republicans pushed Ryan's $3.5 trillion budget through the House on Thursday. It relies on biting spending cuts and a revamping of Medicare to curb massive federal deficits and draws a sharp contrast with how President Barack Obama and Democrats would tackle the nation's fiscal problems.
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