Pelosi Gets a Challenger
Probably won’t make a difference, but it could provide some entertainment value : North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler told Fox News on Monday he is following through with his vow to challenge Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the role of the House’s top Democrat when the party moves into the minority in the next Congress. Shuler said he’s making good on his campaign promise to challenge Pelosi for minority leader, adding that he’s had a respectful relationship with Pelosi but would always be direct with her. It’s an uphill battle, he acknowledged, but the Democrats lost in the recent midterm elections, and he thinks Pelosi is partly responsible for that loss. The challenge comes as House Democrats just avoided a messy leadership struggle between Reps. Steny Hoyer of Maryland and James Clyburn of South Carolina for the No. 2 post of their new minority. Pelosi brokered a deal that will allow Hoyer to become second in command while Clyburn receives a new position that will be labeled the third-ranking post in leadership. But several Democrats, most of them moderates from conservative districts, have made clear that they won’t support Pelosi’s leadership bid after their party suffered historic losses to Republicans last week. He’ll probably get skunked, but everyone will be watching to see how much support he gets in the caucus.
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on November 16, 2010. Filed under