In split, Ryan stumping for House GOP but not for Trump

CHESTER SPRINGS, Pa. (AP) – For Paul Ryan, October is about protecting the Republican majority of the House and his own job as speaker.

The Wisconsin Republican can’t ignore Donald Trump, his party’s presidential candidate. And he can’t offend Trump’s millions of voters. Many House GOP candidates need them to survive next month’s elections.

But remarkably, the party’s White House nominee and its highest elected official are practically at war. And Ryan says he’s not going to lift a finger for Trump or even be seen with him.

Instead, Ryan told his House GOP colleagues in a conference call on Monday that he will focus on making sure Democrat Hillary Clinton does not get a blank check with a Democratic Congress if she’s elected president.

A person who was on the call described Ryan’s remarks.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)