Outside the Beltway

Intriguing: Pelosi Backs Murtha

Steven L. Taylor · Sunday, November 12, 2006 · 1 comment

Via Roll Call: Pelosi Puts Weight Behind Murtha in Leader Bid

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in line to become Speaker in January, is throwing her support to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) in the race for Majority Leader, a move that will be an early test of her influence and will weigh heavily on Murtha’s contest with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) for the post.

Very interesting. I would have thought that she would’ve been on Steny’s side–if anything because that was the team going into the elections. Perhaps this is a way to forestall Murtha seeking the Speakership?

Then again, perhaps its payback time:

Pelosi, with critical support from Murtha, defeated Hoyer in a race for Minority Whip in 2001, and sources close to the California Democrat said she wants to reward Murtha for his loyalty by backing him in the Majority Leader race.

[Cross-posted at PoliBlog]