Boehner to lead House Republicans

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans Friday chose Rep. John Boehner as minority leader, succeeding Speaker Dennis Hastert in the top GOP leadership post for the Democratic-controlled House that convenes in January.

Boehner defeated Indiana conservative Mike Pence. The vote tally was 168-27 with one vote for Texas Rep. Joe Barton. Boehner's election cements the Ohio conservative's resurrection within GOP leadership ranks. His elevation to succeed Hastert as the party's front line leader came despite unrest within the rank and file and a spirited campaign by Pence.

Shortly afterward, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., won a 137-57 vote to keep his post as whip, which will be the No. 2 GOP job when Republicans become the minority party in January. Blunt is currently the No. 3 House Republican; he defeated Arizona conservative Rep. John Shadegg despite sentiment for fresh leadership faces.

Boehner succeeded Tom DeLay, R-Texas, as majority leader in February and was easily elevated to replace Hastert, who is leaving the leadership ranks in the wake the Democrats' victory.

Boehner initially rode Rep. Newt Gingrich's "Contract With America" campaign to power when the Republicans won control of the House in the 1994 midterm elections. But he was purged along with Gingrich, R-Ga., in the wake of the party's disappointing performance in the 1998 elections.

"We need to start by rebuilding the Republican brand," Boehner said. "Republicans need to get back to our core principles and rededicate ourselves to the reform mind-set that put us in the majority 12 years ago."

Boehner was elevated despite the GOP's Election Day drubbing in the wake of the Mark Foley congressional page scandal. Boehner was among the few lawmakers to learn of inappropriate e-mails sent by Foley, R-Fla., to a former page from Louisiana.

Boehner testified last month before an ethics panel, telling investigators that he had apprised Hastert last spring of the Foley situation _ a conversation that the speaker says he does not recall

Boehner told his colleagues that he would work to tighten ethical standards in the wake of a series of recent scandals that tarred the GOP: DeLay's indictment in Texas; a guilty plea on corruption charges by Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.; and another guilty plea by Bob Ney, R-Ohio, on corruption charges in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

House Republicans are still recovering from the shock of an election in which they lost control of the chamber for the first time in 12 years. Many GOP lawmakers feel the party strayed from its conservative roots and that their leaders fostered a culture in which retaining power seemed more important than sticking with principles.