Cracks seen in GOP front on DeLay

WASHINGTON -- The united front Republicans built to support ousted House majority leader Tom DeLay showed signs of crumbling yesterday, with conservatives threatening a leadership challenge and some moderate Republicans saying they don't think DeLay, facing criminal conspiracy charges in Texas, will ever come back to House leadership.

Members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, upset with Congress's spending, said they are prepared to challenge some of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's top lieutenants if the case against DeLay isn't resolved by year's end. They warned that the three-way power-sharing arrangement Hastert set up in Delay's absence can't last into the next House session, which begins in January.

''The reality of the ordeal [DeLay] faces is not as rosy as everyone's hopes and aspirations," said Representative Zach Wamp, Republican of Tennessee, who said he plans to seek the number three post, House majority whip, if DeLay isn't back in power. ''Everyone's rooting for Tom DeLay to quash this indictment and prevail. But the realistic view is, this is going to take some time, and therefore the conference has to go forward."

Meanwhile, some moderates who have clashed with DeLay were already speaking as though his temporary resignation from leadership is permanent. Yesterday, as DeLay vacated the majority leader's office space, Representative Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Republican, said it was ''doubtful" that the 11-term Texas Republican would ever return to leadership unless the criminal case ends quickly in his favor.

''He's not going away, but he's not the leader," said Shays, who called for DeLay to resign in April and in January pressed to reinstate the party rule that required members of leadership to step down if they're indicted. ''I don't think we're in limbo now. With all due respect, he's moving out of his office."

DeLay's indictment on a felony conspiracy charge related to an alleged campaign-finance money laundering scheme exposed long-simmering tensions within the House GOP caucus. By generating equal measures of respect, loyalty, and fear, DeLay has been the linchpin for the Republican-controlled House, but he presided over a 231-member caucus whose differences have never been sharper since taking control of the House a decade ago.

Most Republicans say they stand by DeLay and are confident he will be acquitted. But that support is tempered by other factors: the frustration of conservatives and moderates; the possibility that DeLay's problems will multiply as investigators examine his ties to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff; and the knowledge that, even if DeLay is acquitted, the case may stretch into 2006, when all House members are up for reelection.

A state judge could move quickly to quash the indictment if it's deemed to be without merit, which would probably allow DeLay to resume his old job. DeLay told CNN yesterday that he is confident the case ''will probably be done by December." His first court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 21.

But if it isn't, the case could last well into next year, making it harder for DeLay to regain his rank. Representative Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican who lost chairmanship of the House Ethics Committee after it admonished DeLay three times last year, said Republicans might not want to restore DeLay's power.

''Most people leave when there is a scent of scandal," Hefley said.

Yesterday, House leaders downplayed the leadership changes. Representative Roy Blunt, the Missouri Republican who was named temporary majority leader on Wednesday, still sent out press releases from the ''Office of the Majority Whip," a post he officially continues to hold. Hastert and DeLay met yesterday morning to discuss how to keep DeLay involved in crafting and shepherding legislation through Congress.

''Mr. DeLay is still going to play an active role in advocating the agenda," said Kevin Madden, a DeLay spokesman. ''That's not going to change because of a temporary step-aside from the majority leader title."

DeLay's allies said they expect he will be the majority leader again. Hastert has firm control of the House, and the single charge DeLay faces was filed by Ronnie Earle a Travis County, Texas, prosecutor and a Democrat with a political grudge, said Representative Bill Shuster, a Pennsylvania Republican.

''I'm confident Tom will be back, because I believe that the charge from Earle and the grand jury is rubbish," Shuster said. ''Just because Tom doesn't have the title anymore doesn't mean he's not the leader of this conference. . . . He carries a big stick. He always will."

Within hours of DeLay's indictment, Hastert engineered a deal to show support for DeLay while placating the party's conservatives and moderates. Blunt took the majority leader's job, with an understanding that he would step aside if DeLay is cleared.

But a range of Republicans immediately questioned that scenario. Many believe the power-sharing arrangement, with fellow Republicans Eric Cantor of Virginia and David Drier of California helping Blunt with DeLay's responsibilities, can work through the end of the 2005 legislative calendar, but the party needs a more permanent solution by 2006.

Conservatives critical of runaway spending said Hastert's team can preserve their support by immediately slashing spending. Otherwise, under Republican rules, 50 GOP members will sign a petition to force new leadership elections in January, said Representative Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican.

''Unless there is a renewed commitment to fiscal discipline, there will be a leadership challenge in January," Flake said.