Word: blunts
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...majority leader, it's the one who stands for continuity who seems to be the favorite. "We need some new vision at the leadership table," says Kentucky Representative Anne Northup, but one question is, How new? The candidates for the old job of the indicted Tom DeLay are Roy Blunt of Missouri, the current majority whip; John Boehner of Ohio; and John Shadegg of Arizona. Blunt has positioned himself as the one who can move the G.O.P. agenda most effectively because of his leadership experience. Boehner and Shadegg have run as reformers, calling for changes like stricter restrictions on earmarks...
...last week, Blunt claimed the support of more than 90 members, leaving him within range of the 117 needed to win. But he has annoyed some Republicans by acting like the front runner, declaring he already has enough votes and refusing to debate his opponents on TV. In fact, the ground could quickly shift. More than 70 Republicans have not allied with any candidate, and if Blunt does not have the votes to win on the first ballot, the top two will go to a runoff. Boehner has been reaching out to backers of Shadegg, who lags in public endorsements...
...race to replace Tom DeLay as House Majority Leader may not be the only change at the top looming for Republicans in Congress. While front-runner Roy Blunt of Missouri tries to fend off challenges from Arizona Republican John Shadegg and Ohio Representative John Boehner ahead of the Feb. 2 vote, there's been a quiet push, led by California's Dan Lungren, to force an election of all of the GOP leadership jobs-except for Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is popular among members. "We need some new vision at the leadership table," says Anne Northup, a GOP member from...
...Still, Blunt does seem to have a commanding lead, with the public support of 91 Republicans-leaving him very close to the 117 needed to win-and his aides have said he has private commitments beyond the 91 that ensure his victory. So like a football team sitting on a lead, he's running a low-key campaign, mainly just talking to members on the phone to gauge their support. By contrast, Boehner and Shadegg have run more aggressive campaigns, with frequent television appearances and endless e-mails from their staffs highlighting endorsements and positive press they are receiving...
...With his apparent lead, Blunt could quickly win the election, which is conducted by secret ballot among the GOP's 231 members. But if he doesn't get the 117 immediately, it would bring a second runoff with either Blunt and Boehner. In his public statements, Boehner has seemed to be positioning himself for that possibility, suggesting that people who support Shadegg are calling for the same kind of dramatic change as he is. But it's not clear how closely allied Boehner or Shadegg's boosters are, or if the combined vote of Shadegg and Boehner could overtake Blunt...