BY PAUL BARTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WASHINGTON
- A spokesman for Rep. J.C. Watts predicted Wednesday the Oklahoma Republican's race against Ohio's Rep. John Boehner for a House leadership post will go down to the wire next week.
The prediction came as Washington political observers continued to express widely differing views about the outcome of the race. Mr. Watts, 40, is trying to take the chairmanship of the House Republican Conference away from Mr. Boehner, 48, R-West Chester.
'Hard to handicap'
Leadership elections among House Republicans are scheduled for Nov. 18 in Washington. Mr. Boehner is the fourth-ranking member of the GOP leadership team.
"I'm not sure anybody can call this until they walk out of there next Wednesday after the vote," said Watts aide Tobi Edwards.
Mr. Boehner's office said Mr. Watts should play a greater role for the party, even though it remained confident of Mr. Boehner's re-election to leadership.
"There is no question that we need to find an appropriate roll for J.C. Watts in our conference. He is an outstanding spokesperson for our vision and our ideas," said Boehner aide Dave Schnittger.
Another veteran Washington political analyst, Stuart Rothenberg of The Rothenberg Political Report, said there is no doubt that Mr. Watts poses a significant challenge for Mr. Boehner but said it is hard to tell what's going to happen.
"These leadership races are awfully hard to handicap," Mr. Rothenberg said.
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Still others continued to predict that a desire among Republicans to change their image could work against Mr. Boehner.
"I think John has filled that role very well," veteran Washington political consultant Eddie Mahe said of Mr. Boehner's four-year tenure as conference chairman.
But if Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Washington, ousts Rep. Dick Armey of Texas as majority leader, it could spell trouble for Mr. Boehner in his race, he said.
"Should Jennifer Dunn win that race, it seems to me the momentum to give this leadership a new face could be overwhelming," Mr. Mahe said.
He noted that the election for majority leader will be held ahead of the one for conference chairman next week.
Mr. Mahe said, "John may be the victim of a vote driven by symbolism." Like Mr. Boehner, Mr. Watts can claim the backing of several prominent House Republicans, including Rep. Bud Schuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
Prominent members who have announced for Mr. Boehner include three powerful committee chairman - Reps. Tom Bliley of Virginia, the Commerce Committee; William Goodling of Pennsylvania, Education and Workforce; and John Kasich of Westerville, Ohio, Budget Committee.
