Paul Ryan's take on Mitt Romney's 2016 decision

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Paul Ryan called his former Republican ticket-mate Mitt Romney's decision not to run for president again in 2016 "bittersweet," but said it won't change his decision not to enter the race, either.

Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he was ready to endorse Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee who picked Ryan as his vice presidential candidate.

"I was going to support Mitt in whatever it is he decided to do," Ryan said.

He said Romney, who flirted with a third presidential run before bowing out in a conference call with supporters on Friday, would have been a "fantastic president."

"It's bittersweet to me in that sense," Ryan said. "But it's a perfect style Mitt Romney decision. Country first. He did what he thought was right for the country the way he decided this. And the statement he made reflects that. And so he's just a class act."

Romney said he was withdrawing so that Republicans could look to a new generation of leaders -- potentially including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, from Ryan's home state.

Ryan didn't endorse anyone on Sunday, but said Walker -- who was first elected in the traditionally blue state in 2010, survived a recall contest after battling with labor unions in 2012 and won a second term in 2014 -- is a "great governor."

"He's a reform governor and he's done some amazing things," Ryan said. "We like to say in Wisconsin that he's so good he got elected governor three times in four years."