Still only 44, Ryan has many paths to choose from. But those who know him say that the House Budget chairman is far more comfortable with policymaking than he is with the constant tending of other members that is central to serving in a leadership role.

“If you win, you spend every day taking care of the people who put you there,” Gingrich said.

Ryan also noted that a leadership role would put an additional burden on his young family.

“Leadership jobs demand lots of extra travel that I don’t want to do,” he said. “I have a young family, and we live in Janesville, Wisconsin, and I spend all my non-session time there. That’s where I want to be, with my 9-, 11-, 12-year-olds at home.”