Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Monday 22 october 2018
Continued from Previous Page
The upbeat mood after
that call Wednesday was a
turnaround from the gloom
of a few weeks ago when
polls indicated Democrats
were favored to take over
the House, with even safe
seats in Trump-won districts
in Pennsylvania and Iowa
at risk. Republicans are
sensing an uptick, thanks
to Brett Kavanaugh's con-
firmation to the Supreme
Court, and a newly ener-
gized electorate awak-
ened to the stakes of the
midterm. As McCarthy puts
it, "This is an election about
jobs versus the mobs." In this Sept. 13, 2018 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., center, talks with House Majority
Scalise technically isn't Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, while House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., speaks during
even running for a promo- a news conference in Washington.
tion — officially, he backs Associated Press
McCarthy for speaker
— but he's indicated he three is without baggage. like the rest of the state. the conservative advo-
would be available to step Jordan faces accusations "They said it was impossible cacy group that is rallying
in if McCarthy falls short. that he didn't do enough for the House Freedom for Jordan. "We don't claim
While boarding a plane af- as a young assistant Ohio Caucus to oust Boehner," there's anything but a long-
ter campaigning in Michi- State University wrestling said Noah Wall, a vice pres- shot, but we see several
gan, Scalise said that while coach to halt alleged ident at FreedomWorks, paths."q
the GOP ranks may be sexual misconduct by the
smaller and tighter after team doctor. Jordan force-
the election, the outcome fully denies those accusa-
"brings everybody closer." tions. Scalise has had to
He was dashing off to sup- answer questions about
port the GOP candidate in his appearance years ago
an open seat in South Car- before a community group
olina. Rather than embold- with ties to former Ku Klux
en challenges to the lead- Klan leader David Duke.
ership, the election could To be sure, Democrats
knit the House GOP closer have their own struggles.
together behind Trump's House Minority Leader Nan-
agenda, he said. cy Pelosi wants to return as
"Everybody needs to be all speaker if Democrats win a
in," Scalise told AP. "We're House majority; many in her
not fighting to keep this party want new leadership.
majority to be at odds with Republicans have been
each other. We want to here before, in a chaotic
get some things done." period after conservatives
As the majority whip these forced John Boehner into
past few years, he said, "my early retirement in 2015,
job has been to build those then denied McCarthy the
coalitions." votes to move into the top
Perhaps most unusual has spot. Ryan was recruited to
been Jordan's longshot fill the leadership vacuum.
bid. Taking a page from To shore up his conserva-
Trump's playbook, Jordan tive flank, McCarthy has
has eschewed the normal pivoted closer to conserva-
path, opting for an outside tives and is championing
campaign that's drumming their issues, including legis-
up support from conserva- lation to pay for Trump's $25
tive groups and media- billion border wall.
friendly allies. If Republicans retain the
Jordan is a regular on Fox GOP majority, Cole said
News, pushing the House he would be hard pressed
GOP's investigation of the to see Republicans walk-
Justice Department's probe ing away from McCarthy
into Russian interference in after all he's doing to keep
the 2016 election. Along- the party in power. But if
side Rep. Mark Meadows, Republicans lose big, espe-
R-N.C., the chairman of the cially in the late-breaking
Freedom Caucus who is California races, McCar-
also campaigning for col- thy's clout could diminish.
leagues, he is positioning The population of suburban
the group for influence in Orange County, a longtime
the House. None of the top GOP stronghold, is shifting