Pelosi Makes History, but Loses Leadership Fight

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2006 — -- Nancy Pelosi made history today by becoming the first female nominated to be speaker of the House. But her ascension -- along with much of the Democratic agenda -- has already been overshadowed by her first setback: Pelosi's favored candidate for the No. 2 leadership spot, Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania, lost to current Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Hoyer's victory, by a margin of 149-86, was a blow to Pelosi in the first test of her clout as leader of the majority.

The battle created new tensions among Democrats, with many complaining that Pelosi handled the matter clumsily -- and was unnecessarily divisive -- at a time when Democrats hoped to show the public that they were united and prepared to lead.

Pelosi's support for Murtha was not a surprise. Murtha has long been a close ally of Pelosi's, while Pelosi and Hoyer have had a tense relationship ever since they ran against each other for the position of minority whip in 2001.

But her decision to make her support public, in a letter released Sunday night, and her use of what some complained were hardball tactics -- pointedly urging members in phone calls and meetings and floor conversations to support her preferred choice -- caught some Democrats off guard.

Pelosi aides and allies countered that her approach had not been especially heavy-handed. They said she kept out of the race until this week and stuck to her regular schedule in the days leading up to the vote.

Speaking to reporters today, Pelosi emphasized that her support for Murtha was largely about Iraq.

"I was proud to support him for majority leader, because I thought that would be the best way to bring an end to the war in Iraq," she said.

Murtha, a Vietnam veteran whose stance on many issues is to the right of his Democratic colleagues, created a stir when he came out publicly in favor of withdrawing from Iraq last year. Many Democrats credited him with helping to shape the national debate in their favor.

"When Jack came out [against the war] he tipped the balance," Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington, a Murtha supporter, said on ABC News Now's "Politics Live."

Today Hoyer agreed that Murtha "has been a courageous and outspoken leader for that cause," and said Murtha's loss should not be viewed as a rejection of those principles. Rather, he said, "a team that has been successful was asked to continue."

For many members, the decision to back Hoyer appeared to come down to personal loyalty and Hoyer's perceived qualifications for the job.

"He has been a superb whip," Rep. David Price of North Carolina, a Hoyer backer, said on "Politics Live." "We have never had a whip organization anything like this. … The leadership team would be diminished without Steny. People realize that."

Hoyer had cultivated support for this race -- raising money for members and candidates -- for months. He had a significant lead before Pelosi got involved, and he had the public backing of many incoming committee chairmen, as well as the support of many new members.

Indeed, some members speculated that, despite Pelosi's public defeat, she may ultimately be better off with Hoyer as her deputy.

"This was an outcome that will strengthen the caucus and will ultimately strengthen Nancy Pelosi herself," Price said.

If Murtha had won, Pelosi might have found herself under fire from watchdog groups and others who had criticized Murtha's alleged ethical lapses.

During the midterm campaign, Democrats had attacked Republicans for fostering a "culture of corruption," and upon taking the majority, Pelosi pledged the next Congress would be the most ethical in history.

But Murtha was dogged in recent days by revived questions about his role as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Abscam scandal of more than two decades ago, his use of earmarks, and his votes against campaign-finance and ethics bills.

He may have damaged his cause with comments he made to the conservative blue dog Democrats Tuesday night, in which he appeared to dismiss Pelosi's ethics proposals for the next Congress.

Whether Pelosi is politically weakened by her caucus's rejection of her stated choice depends on whether it is an isolated incident or the harbinger of things to come.

Aides said she decided, win or lose, that it was important to send a message about the importance of loyalty. And allies said the party, and Pelosi herself, would quickly move on.

"She knew she was taking a risk," McDermott said. "She will pick up the pieces and go forward."

But there are indications Pelosi may already be facing another challenge from her caucus over another key position -- the chair of the Intelligence Committee. Pelosi has signaled that she is unlikely to give the spot to the committee's current ranking member, Rep. Jane Harman of California.

But this week, the blue dog Democrats -- who largely backed Hoyer over Murtha -- issued a letter of support for Harman.

And how much damage the fight has done to the relationship between Pelosi and Hoyer remains to be seen. Both stressed party unity in the wake of the vote, and were gracious in praising each other.

Still, some signs of strain were evident: As they prepared to leave the press conference, Pelosi suddenly realized they had not posed for the cameras together in an arms-raised "victory" stance, and quickly pulled her team back.

"We should have done that at the beginning," she said.