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Edited on Sun Jun-11-06 09:58 AM by newyawker99
Iraq war foe Murtha eyes Democratic leadership Fri Jun 9, 2006 6:22 PM ET
By Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. John Murtha, an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, unexpectedly announced on Friday he will run for the No. 2 leadership post in the U.S. House of Representatives if Democrats regain control of that chamber in elections this fall.
"If we prevail as I hope and know we will and return to the majority this next Congress, I have decided to run for the open seat of the majority leader," Murtha, a Pennsylvanian, said in a letter sent to House Democrats.
"I would appreciate your consideration and vote and look forward to speaking to you personally about my decision," Murtha said in the letter.
The announcement from the decorated Marine veteran appeared to take his party and Capitol Hill by surprise. The man who holds the No. 2 position in the Democratic caucus, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, immediately made clear he had no intention of stepping aside.
"Mr. Hoyer worked extraordinarily hard to unify the caucus and take back the House for the Democrats, and that is his first focus," a spokeswoman for Hoyer said.
"As a result of that unity, he is confident that we will be successful in November, and he intends to run for majority leader," she said. Hoyer, who is from Maryland, believes he has the support of the overwhelming majority of House Democrats, she added.
(Additional reporting by Vicki Allen) --------------------------------------------
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