NYT/AP: (Blunt, Boehner) Remain Short in GOP House Race

[DeepModem Mom]

Candidates Remain Short in GOP House Race
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 12, 2006


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Despite a weeklong campaign, both Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt and Ohio Rep. John Boehner acknowledge they remain short of the tally required to succeed embattled former Majority Leader Tom DeLay as the No. 2 Republican in the House.

Blunt claims the lead and issued a statement claiming more than 100 supporters, though his list of those willing to make their names public contains just 70 lawmakers. To win the race to replace DeLay, R-Texas, requires 116 votes, a majority of the 231 member House GOP conference.

An aide to Boehner claimed the Ohio Republican and chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee has 90 committed supporters, but only 36 have made public commitments.

A potential dark horse, Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., was inching toward a decision on whether to run, saying candidates Blunt and Boehner won't move aggressively enough to drive the party after a series of ethics scandals. Shadegg may announce a decision Friday.

Neither declared candidate's claim could be verified because the election is by secret ballot. Before Thursday, Blunt and Boehner would only reveal publicly declared supporters, and the release of the new claims of support seemed in part designed to discourage new entrants into the race....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-House-GOP-Leadership.html