January 09, 2006

Battle For The Mods

Rep. Mike Castle (DE) -- past chair of the Tuesday Group and one of the most outspoken House moderates -- will endorse Boehner tomorrow, per a source close to the Delawarean. Castle stands out as the Boehner's most high-profile moderate supporter to date. The two have worked closely together on Boehner's cmte, where Castle is Boehner's education subcmte chair.

And, evidently, he is not just offering a mere endorsement. Another House source tells us that Castle will be hosting a Members-only conference call tonight with other Tuesday Group'ers where he will, presumably, whip support for his chosen candidate.

Just going on the names made public, Boehner could apparently use the help. Blunt appears to have the edge among the Mod Squad so far, as Rep's Nancy Johnson (CT), Chris Shays (CT), Mike Ferguson (NJ) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ) have all endorsed the Maj Whip. Blunt is also claiming Castle's Tuesday Group co-chair, Rep. Mark Kirk (IL), but that endorsement has been disputed by a source close to Kirk and Kirk is overseas on a CODEL.

Also keep in mind that there is a contingent of centrists, led by Rep. Charlie Bass (NH), which is holding off on endorsing in an effort to make each candidate hew closely to their reform line.

Posted at 05:21 PM

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