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Murtha Mutes Quest for House Leadership
Rep. John Murtha, a candidate for House majority leader if the Democrats oust the Republicans from power in November, said Tuesday will not actively campaign for that post until after the elections.
"I've put a placeholder in place by making myself available as a candidate," the Pennsylvania Democrat said in an interview with AP Radio. "I've talked to a lot of people. I'm encouraged, but I'm willing to suspend it if it diverts from my major reason: that's winning the House back." Murtha gave no indication that he was considering withdrawing from the party race.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Murtha was suspending his campaign "in the spirit of unity to achieve our goal of winning a Democratic majority in November."
Murtha, a pro-military Democrat who has gained prominence in recent months by leading his party in demanding an early troop withdrawal from Iraq, last week said he would seek the majority leader post if the Democrats regain the majority they lost in 1994. The party must gain 15 seats in the election to accomplish that.
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The announcement put him on a possible collision course with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Hoyer, second-in-command to Pelosi, plans to seek his party's support to become majority leader if the Democrats win and Pelosi ascends to the position of house speaker.
"I welcome this decision by Congressman Murtha. Our caucus should continue to focus our energies on regaining the House majority and addressing the priorities of the American people," Hoyer said.
© 2006 Associated Press.
Editor's note:
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Inside Cover Stories
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