I think Murtha did just that plus some 201 currently sittling congressman and 44 currently sitting Senators in addition. I think it likely that everyone he asked said NO WAY.
Only when everyone who has something to lose had said NO did Murtha ask a FORMER Senator and a FORMER Speaker of the House to support him. They are two people with names that can not be hurt by supporting Murtha.
That says to me that everyone currently in office turned Murtha down. I don't know if any of those serving in the legislature felt that they could help Murtha, but we can certainly deduce that they feel campaigning for Murtha can certainly hurt them.