The American Spectator

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Pence on Team Shadegg Strategy

By John Batchelor on 1.24.06 @ 10:13PM

Spoke to Mike Pence of 6th Indiana with regard the insider line on the February 2 showdown for House GOP leader.

According to Pence, Team Roy Blunt of Missouri claims 115 or 116 pledges; yet the Hotline lists only 90 published names. Pence, a Shadegg supporter, says that he counts 100 firm pledges to Blunt, no more.

Team Shadegg's strategy is to identify names on the Blunt pledge list of members who will state in public that they chose too soon, that Shadegg's late entry changes the landscape.

One wavering name, confirmed by Larry Kudlow of CNBC, is Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who may be close to changing her commitment from Blunt to Shadegg. Blackburn now hints that she will challenge Deborah Pryce, who is part of Team Blunt; and that is motive for Blackburn to pull vote back from pledge to Blunt.

Team Shadegg's election day strategy is to stop Blunt on the first ballot. Anything less than 117 (secret ballot) opens the door to a rush to Boehner or Shadegg.