WASHINGTON — Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri has emerged as the favorite in today's Republican vote for a new House majority leader, a contest that has been dominated by debate over the party's direction in the wake of ethics scandals.
Blunt, criticized by his challengers for his close ties to some of corporate America's most influential lobbyists, appeared to have overcome fears within the GOP that those relationships could embarrass the party in this election year.
Democrats have pledged to make what they call Washington's "culture of corruption" under Republican leadership a key campaign issue. Choosing Blunt as majority leader -- the House's No. 2 post -- would signal that most of the chamber's Republicans were more interested in stability than tapping a new face to rebut such charges.
Blunt is a longtime ally of Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who gave up the majority leader's post in September after being charged with violating campaign finance laws in his home state. Blunt, the majority whip, has served as DeLay's temporary replacement.
A Blunt victory in today's vote also would underscore how the outcome of Capitol Hill's leadership races often are determined less by weighty issues of policy and vision and more by matters such as personal bonds, geographic loyalties and committee assignments.
Blunt and the two other candidates for majority leader -- John A. Boehner of Ohio and John Shadegg of Arizona -- have pledged to support efforts designed to put more distance between lawmakers and lobbyists.
The push for such efforts followed the guilty pleas entered in early January by lobbyist Jack Abramoff to charges of fraud and conspiracy to bribe lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides. Abramoff was closely linked to several top Republicans, including DeLay.
The House on Wednesday took its first step toward ethics reform sparked by the Abramoff scandal when it voted, 379 to 50, to ban from the chamber's floor and its gym former members who are lobbyists.
The new rule, sponsored by Republicans, also applies to spouses of current lawmakers -- meaning it affects Blunt's wife, who is a lobbyist.
Democrats and some Republicans derided the move as largely symbolic.
"I've spent time in the gym, and I've never been lobbied on things," said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a frequent critic of the House GOP leadership who backs Shadegg in today's election.
