If *all* the Democrats vote “present”, that would just about guarantee Boehner’s re-election.
More info on this tactic, here....
Rep. Louie Gohmert Announces Run for Speaker of the House
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3243384/posts
....There is false information being floated that any Republican candidates in addition to the current Speaker will split the vote and give the Speaker’s gavel to Congresswoman Pelosi. This is nothing but a scare tactic to keep the current regime in power.
As long as Republicans vote for an adult American citizen for Speaker, no Democrat can win. Only if 59 Republicans voted Present would there be a chance for a Democrat to win.
To win the Speakers race, an adult American citizen has to get a clear majority of all Members of Congress on the House floor voting for an eligible person. Voting Present simply reduces the number of votes required to win a majority. If no one wins a majority on the first ballot, then we go to a second vote, then a third, until someone gets a majority.....