DeLay Interviewed on Fox News

I can still be out there working for the Republican majority and the conservative movement and not jeopardize this seat.

SCOTT: Then, why put your district through the primary, which was somewhat bruising? You won it pretty easily, but there were some battles fought there. Why do all of that if you knew you weren't going to ultimately hold on to your seat?

DELAY: I didn't know that at the time. Remember, I don't set the deadlines for filing or the deadlines for the primary.

We though that, in December, when we had to file for office, that we would be in trial in Austin and be out of trial -- because it would only take about three days to beat Ronnie Earle's frivolous charges -- and we could go on.

When I stepped aside as majority leader, we were in the middle of a primary. After the primary, we evaluated it and made the decision, and I think it's a right decision.

SCOTT: Some are saying that The Hammer has gone soft with this pullout. Your response?

DELAY: First of all, I don't see myself as The Hammer. That's a nickname given to me by The Washington Post.

People that know me know that I'm passionate about what I believe in. I'm passionate about the conservative movement in this country. And I'm passionate about the Republican Party. And I'm very passionate about my constituents.

And I work hard. And I think I've been effective at what I've done for the last 21 years. And it's time for me to go do something else.

SCOTT: You know -- you've seen these charges in the paper -- a couple of your close associates, your former staffers, your former deputy chief of staff and your former P.R. man have pleaded guilty. They're apparently cooperating with federal investigators.

Is that part of your reason for resigning?

DELAY: No. The Abramoff affair has nothing to do with me. The Justice Department has told my lawyers I'm not a target of this investigation.