If House Republicans re-elect Ohio Rep. John Boehner as leader of their caucus, Rep. Roy Blunt is less likely to be re-elected party whip, according to The Weekly Standard.
Both Boehner and Blunt are running to hold their current positions, but both also face serious challenges.
Indiana Rep. Mike Pence is challenging Boehner for Minority Leader. Arizona Rep. John Shadegg wants Blunt's position as Minority Whip.
The conservative Weekly Standard sees trouble for at least one of the G.O.P.'s top leaders, and it could well be Blunt.
"If Boehner looks poised to win the leader's race, many feel that will dampen Roy Blunt's chances of staying on as GOP whip. The reason is simple: House Republicans probably want at least one fresh face in their two most senior posts. Last winter Blunt came under criticism for being too pork-friendly. Like Boehner and Pence, he and John Shadegg have broadly similar voting records. But unlike Boehner, Blunt was the whip under Tom DeLay, which makes it easy for Blunt's opponents to cast him as symbolic of the Old Guard. Democrats are sure to use the Abramoff cudgel against any Republican with close links to DeLay," writes Duncan Currie in the latest issue.
"As we go to press on Friday, November 10, rumors are floating around to the effect that if Blunt thought he might lose, he would drop out and make room for Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia. Some argue that Cantor has a better shot than Blunt at beating Shadegg. This is just speculation, of course. We'll know more in the days prior to the vote scheduled for November 17."
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