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"Scam" ads the norm Trail Mix: Hillary haters spam cyberspace Gunning for the center Democrats make Hillary legit The blundering pundit Don Giuliani Campaign video: |
Et tu, J.C.?
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Jan. 15, 2000 | WASHINGTON --
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Dick Armey, Majority Whip Tom DeLay and scores of colleagues have implored Watts to run for re-election in his southwestern Oklahoma district. The indecision by Watts, the Republican Conference Committee chairman, at least has the effect of silencing the internal criticism about his skills as the party's top communicator. Watts' retirement would hurt the party's effort to retain its slim majority in the House. Already, 21 Republicans have announced their retirements, compared to six Democrats. A loss of five Republicans seats would shift the majority back to Democrats, and Republicans may have difficulty retaining Watts' seat in the GOP column without him. Potentially strong Democratic contenders, including the state House speaker, wait in the wings and no prospective Republican candidate has Watts' broad appeal. His departure would also cost Republicans a potent symbol of their party's appeal to African-Americans. Watts often defended the party against charges of racism and bigotry and engaged in heated battles with the Congressional Black Caucus, which he refused to join. A Republican leadership aide, speaking on background, said "things are looking better than they were" for Watts' return to the political arena and expectations are he will seek another two-year term. But Watts' spokesman Bill Shapard, who said the congressman would not be available for an interview, contended no one yet knows Watts' decision. No announcement is expected until the end of the month. Both deny that a recent spate of bad press for Watts is a factor in his decision or even the cause of his sudden reflection. "We need him from a communications standpoint. We need to have him and his entire team energized, instead of out there looking for jobs. We need all those resources pulling in the same direction," the Republican aide said. But he added, "I think there's a big part of him that would like to get out of this rat race and make money, go out on a speaking tour and not put up with all the bullshit." Shapard said Watts, 42, is considering retirement because he embraced a six-year term limit when he first ran for office in 1994, although Watts did not sign a term-limit pledge as some Republican candidates did that year. "That just weighs heavily on his heart," Shapard said. "He's often said it's hard to get off the political treadmill once you get on and he thinks this may be an opportunity to do that."
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