A blunt object: National Journal’s Insiders Poll asked denizens of the Hill about who they favor for Tom DeLay’s replacement as House Majority Leader. While Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., claims to be first in line for the top spot, some insiders bluntly disagree.
More Republicans chose Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, to assume the job — 48% of Republicans said they preferred Boehner, compared to the 34% who picked Blunt; 18% named someone else.
Blunt claims more than 100 commitments from members in the race; Boehner reports 86. “Boehner is more of a statement than Blunt,” said one GOP insider, and another suggested that “Blunt would be a huge mistake: more ‘same old, same old.'”
More Democrats picked Boehner than Blunt as well, although a majority said they’d prefer to see another candidate. Boehner garnered 23% and Blunt got 15%. Republicans should elect someone else said 56%, with one Democrat saying, “They need a fresh face, untainted by the corruption and sleaze of the current leadership. Too bad it’ll never happen.”
Yeah, too bad.
