Posted on 01/09/2006 3:09:04 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
WASHINGTON — Reps. Roy Blunt and John Boehner, rivals in the race to succeed Majority Leader Tom DeLay, both claimed progress Monday and released the names of supporters to prove it.
The two men maneuvered for support as Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia claimed the votes needed to move up the leadership ladder when elections are held early next month.
"He has 140 firm commitments for majority whip," said Cantor's spokesman, Rob Collins. He declined to provide a list.
Cantor has been serving as deputy whip under Blunt. Not to be deterred, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., announced he would run for the office of majority whip in the event Blunt were to win the majority leader's race.
The developments unfolded as House Republicans struggled to avoid political damage from an election-year corruption scandal.
DeLay, under indictment on campaign finance charges in his home state of Texas, announced Saturday that he would not attempt to regain the leadership post he temporarily left when he was charged. He made his decision under pressure from fellow Republicans reacting to lobbyist Jack Abramoff's recent guilty pleas on federal conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud charges in a congressional influence-peddling investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Richmond ping for Eric Cantor.
John Boehner said on a Fox interview yesterday that he would be a better choice to bring harmony to the Congress because ... "honey gets the bees" or some other stupid chit. We need someone who will plow the Dems a new butt-hole.
Plow, huh? Wow that's a new and good one, thanks.
I'm laughing mine off.
Mike Pence has said he will not run for majority leader.
I'm trying to figure out who he will back for leader though.
I do not think he is backing Blunt.
Congressman John Boehner might be the better choice from a public relations point of view, given his lack of ties to the unfairly smeared DeLay.
I'm rootin' for the homeboy.
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