In their excellent coverage of the House leadership race, Hotline On Call notes that "missing in all the discussion about who is supporting who is this reality: Three days into the race to become the next House Maj Leader, John Boehner and Roy Blunt have, between them, less than 80 public commitments from their 229 GOP colleagues."
Perhaps there are significant indications of private support for the two that for some reason isn't public yet. Or, as we noted yesterday, members may be questioning the K Street links that propelled Boehner and Blunt to their current status.
"Now we know that most House GOPers are in favor of 'reform' to the extent that such changes quickly 'reform' the media narrative of GOP corruption and ensure their seats for another term. But does the paucity of public commitments for either camp mean that there are now a healthy chunk of members who, pushed over the edge by the Abramoff affair, are truly fed up with business as usual?"
The big question: "Will there be enough of these members... to force an institutional reevaluation and restructuring of the House?"
Roll Call notes the growing unease among House Republicans, saying "an increasing number of lawmakers are pushing to hold fresh votes for the entire GOP leadership."
The Hill hints at new entrants in the race: "The two candidatesí swift and sizable campaign operations appear to have scared other members out of the race, but lobbyists and aides say itís not too late for others to jump in if neither secures a winning margin within the next week."
The public tally thus far: Blunt: 46, Boehner: 30.
