Drive to permanently oust DeLay growing

Sat., Jan. 7, 2006

Mike Dorning and Jeff Zeleny Chicago Tribune

Bad news for Republicans in latest poll

» In an ominous election-year sign for Republicans, Americans are leaning sharply toward wanting Democrats to take control of Congress, an AP-Ipsos poll finds. Democrats are favored 49 percent to 36 percent.

» The poll was taken this week as Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to tax evasion, fraud and corruption charges and agreed to aid a federal investigation of members of Congress and other government officials.

» President Bush's job approval remains low – 40 percent in the AP-Ipsos poll.

» "I don't think anyone is hitting the panic button," said Rich Bond, a former Republican National Committee chairman. "But there is an acute recognition of the grim environment that both parties are operating in."

» In the Senate, 33 seats will be on the ballot in November, 17 of them currently in Democratic hands, 15 controlled by Republicans, and one held by Sen. James Jeffords, a Vermont independent. Democrats now have 44 Senate seats, and need to pick up seven to gain a majority, six if Vermont independent Bernie Sanders replaces Jeffords.

» All 435 House seats are on the ballot this fall, and Democrats need to gain at least 15 to become the majority party and take control of the House.

WASHINGTON – Support for embattled Republican congressional leader Tom DeLay crumbled in his own party Friday as colleagues from the moderate and conservative wings launched an effort to drive him from power amid rising anxiety over the corruption scandal spreading through Washington.

As DeLay struggled to hold his place in the House leadership, party leaders sent emissaries to persuade him to permanently relinquish his post as House majority leader, a senior House Republican leadership aide said. Meanwhile, two congressmen launched a formal petition drive to elect a permanent replacement for DeLay, who temporarily vacated his position last fall while awaiting trial in Texas on money-laundering charges.

“Everybody knows we’re going to have an election except for, maybe, Tom. Hopefully, Tom will come around and call for it himself,” said the senior Republican leadership aide who had direct knowledge of talks with DeLay.

Sentiment against DeLay, a veteran Texas congressman, has surged in Republican circles since Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist with close ties to DeLay, pleaded guilty to corruption charges that alleged two former high-level DeLay aides were participants in a bribery scheme. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for DeLay’s removal and the influential conservative magazine National Review editorialized for his departure in its online edition.

“It’s time to elect a new leader so that there is a fresh mandate and a clear chain of command,” said Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who leads a caucus of moderate Republicans. Kirk was among the first members to throw his support behind the petition demanding a new election for the post of majority leader. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., a longtime ally of DeLay, said he would not stand in the way of a new election.

On Friday morning, Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a conservative, and Charles Bass, R-N.H., a moderate, began circulating the petition. Throughout the day, the petition’s organizers lobbied colleagues for the 50 required signatures by telephone and e-mail.

“The momentum is with us and we expect to get there,” Flake said.

Drive to permanently oust DeLay growing

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