McConnell backs Speaker Ryan’s outreach to GOP contenders

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he hasn’t reached out to the leading GOP candidates for president, though he still plans to support whoever wins the topsy-turvy race.

The Kentucky Republican said he appreciated the efforts of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican who reportedly reached out to GOP front-runner Donald Trump and his main rival, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and plans to call the other remaining contenders, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, soon.

Mr. McConnell said he’s glad the speaker is developing a bold GOP agenda and keeping the field apprised of it.

“It’s a good idea, and I’m glad he’s doing it,” he said.

Many Capitol Hill Republicans are fearful that Mr. Trump’s brutish behavior and forceful positions will alienate voters and tarnish the party. Establishment members are also cool to Mr. Cruz, who famously led an unsuccessful push to defund Obamacare in 2013 and once used a floor speech to accuse Mr. McConnell of lying.

Yet Mr. McConnell said he doesn’t intend to wade into the raucous contest, and he demurred when a reporter asked if someone could be a “good Republican” while refusing to support the GOP nominee for president.

“I can only speak for himself, but my intend to support the nominee of our party,” he said.

He also refused to theorize about a brokered convention, should the remaining candidates continue to divvy up delegates.

“I understand the rules of the convention are that when you get to 1,237 votes, you’re the nominee,” he said. “We’re focusing on our business here in the Senate.”

Mr. McConnell said the chamber will train its sights on annual appropriations bill that fund the government, even though the Senate Budget Committee postponed action on a GOP budget for fiscal 2017, as a conservative revolt in the House delays a companion measure.

Undeterred, Mr. McConnell said the chamber can rely on top-line budget numbers the parties agreed to last fall.

Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said he is ready to work with the GOP so long as they stick by the agreed-upon spending levels.

But Mr. Reid declined to weigh in on the overall state of the GOP, particularly its refusal to rally around Mr. Cruz as an alternative to Mr. Trump.

“I have no idea,” Mr. Reid said. “It’s a circus, and I’m not part of that circus.”