Friday, June 09, 2006
Murtha's Masterstroke
I have a feeling this was planned in the highest Dem circles:
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. John Murtha, an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, unexpectedly announced on Friday he will run for the No. 2 leadership post in the U.S. House of Representatives if Democrats regain control of that chamber in elections this fall.Of course, the Dems have to take over the House for this to happen, which is no easy task, but the highly decorated Murtha as Majority Leader whould help shed theweak-in-National-Security- image the Dems have. I don't think Pelosi and Hoyer are all that close, so this would be a good way to get Hoyer nudged aside-how could he compete against the well liked Murtha? Even if it never happens, it shows that Murtha would have a big impact in a Dem House majority. Sort of like a Presidential candidate announcing early who his cabinent would be to entice general election voters. We'll see what happens.
"If we prevail as I hope and know we will and return to the majority this next Congress, I have decided to run for the open seat of the majority leader," Murtha, a Pennsylvanian, said in a letter sent to House Democrats.
"I would appreciate your consideration and vote and look forward to speaking to you personally about my decision," Murtha said in the letter.
