DeLay Loath to Doff His Leadership Hat

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) has temporarily assumed the post of majority leader. But with DeLay actively engaged in leadership business, the chain of command is confusing at best.

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and other leaders remain publicly in DeLay's camp. House Republican Vice Chairman Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) distributed a glossy "member profile" of DeLay last week, gushing about DeLay's role in foster parenting, his run-in with an errant quail hunter, his love of jazz and his affections for his bichons friss , Baily and Taylor, and his miniature dachshund, Scooter.

"The 'Hammer' Has a Big Heart," read the headline.

Most importantly, DeLay remains intimately involved in setting legislative strategy, especially as the House drives to cut federal spending to help pay for a surge of hurricane relief. And he has continued his well-honed practice of rounding up votes on controversial measures that otherwise might not win House approval.

DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden said DeLay has maintained those roles at the request of Hastert and other House leaders -- with the blessing of most rank-and-file members.

"It's not lost on anybody that Mr. DeLay has a unique understanding of the issues and a record of success," Madden said. "He's going to continue to play a role as long as members encourage him to do so."

With difficult votes coming, especially on a massive budget bill cutting $50 billion in spending over five years and a $70 billion tax cut to follow, some Republicans say DeLay needs more authority, not less.

"DeLay knows how to get votes; he knows how to work the floor; he knows how to talk to chairmen, because he's been doing it for years," said one House leadership aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because internal leadership matters are considered confidential. "I know some members have concerns, but the flip side is, if he wasn't involved and we ran into problems, people would say: 'Well, DeLay knows how to get things done. Why isn't he being used?' "

Regardless of how members feel about DeLay, Republicans across the ideological spectrum say the current unstable structure of the leadership is inviting discord. DeLay has asked Republicans to leave his post vacant until the charges against him are resolved, and supporters say the case could be tossed out or beaten by January.

But for now, the majority leader's office is "a staff without a head," said Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.).

"Who's responsible for what? Who do you call if you have a problem?" Bass asked.

Already, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) has said he would like to run for a leadership post. Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, an increasingly influential faction of fiscal conservatives, has signaled to members that he is exploring a run. And many expect Rep. John A. Boehner (Ohio), a leadership member since the 1994 Republican House takeover, to make a bid.

All that has helped fragment the House Republican Conference as members jostle for advantage.

"There's a power vacuum," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). "If we don't get some unity and sense of purpose soon, people will start looking after themselves."

DeLay has tried to shore up his position by lining up with conservatives, especially on the drive for budget cuts, where he once played the role of conciliator. And that has created other problems, as the Republican Study Committee gains power at the expense of other factions.

"You can't have a part of the conference wagging the whole body," Davis said. "The conservatives say it's all about keeping the party base, keeping the party base. But you hold the majority by holding your marginal districts."