DeLay forsakes old job

WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom DeLay, one of the most powerful and feared Republican leaders in Washington, abandoned his quest to regain his post as House majority leader Saturday, bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans worried about the growing corruption and campaign finance scandals linked to his office.

The announcement by DeLay, R-Texas, in his home town of Sugar Land ends his decadelong tenure as a legislative juggernaut and conservative ideologue who revolutionized the relationship between power and money in Washington. It also cleared the way for a leadership contest that could further shake up the House GOP team going into an uncertain election year. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said Republicans would choose a new majority leader and other officers the week of Jan. 30, when members return for President Bush's State of the Union address.

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who has served as acting majority leader since September, when DeLay was forced to step down after his indictment on campaign finance charges, will ask his colleagues to make his post permanent. Sources close to House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner, R-Ohio, confirmed he will challenge Blunt.

But dark horse candidates are likely to emerge, from the ideological conservative Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., to veteran House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.

"There has been this desperate plea for someone to take charge," said Charles Cook, an independent political analyst. Republicans "are looking for some leadership, someone that has some sense of what they ought to be doing."

DeLay, 58, who served as House majority whip for eight years before becoming majority leader in late 2002, had resolved to return to leadership since he was indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges of money laundering and conspiracy linked to his efforts to finance state political campaigns. DeLay contended the indictments were a political vendetta by the Democratic Travis County prosecutor, Ronnie Earle, and until recently most Republicans supported that view.

But last week's guilty plea by Republican lobbyist and DeLay ally Jack Abramoff dramatically changed the political climate, according to many lawmakers and political experts. A source close to the Republican leadership said DeLay was counseled by senior Republicans, including House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., but that DeLay ultimately made the decision, calling Hastert Saturday morning.