Williams coy when called to run for president

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, turned back a challenge Wednesday to join a long list of Republicans running for president, or to pick his favorite.

"As you know, I'm the only one in Texas not running for president," Williams said during a Johnson County town hall at Grumps' Burgers in Old Town.

"Why not?" a member of the audience retorted.

"Someone's got to turn the lights out," Williams said.

A local Republican leader suggested the initial GOP presidential debate and more to come might not be good for the party. The process is good, Williams said.

"Any of them would be better than what we've got," he said.

With at least one ardent supporter of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and another equally as supportive of Dr. Ben Carson Sr. in the audience, Williams made the wise political move not to individually address any Republican presidential candidate, other than the frontrunner.

"Donald Trump is a serious candidate," Williams said. "He's discussing issues we need to talk about."

Trump holds an 11.3 percent lead in the Real Clear Politics average of the three most popular polls, with more than double the support of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is polling second. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds a 24.3 percent lead over her nearest challenger in Real Clear Politics' Democratic polling.

Williams, the top-rated conservative in the U.S.
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House by the Conservative Political Action Conference, did not say he wouldn't entertain a run for president now or in the future.

"I thought I might get out of here without that being asked," Williams said.