House Dems Wrangle Over Top Posts

Tuesday's votes were still being counted when House Democrats started wrangling over leadership positions, Politico reports. Henry Waxman has launched a challenge for chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee, aiming to take out John Dingell of Michigan, whose support is eroding. Says a lobbyist: "He has done nothing on energy because he is in the pockets of the auto companies, and that hurt us this year."

Nancy Pelosi professed ignorance of Waxman's plans, but she has clashed with Dingell in the past, and her support would be invaluable to Waxman. “Nancy gets what Nancy wants,” says one colleague. There may be even more infighting ahead: If Rahm Emanuel becomes the White House chief of staff, expect a throw-down for his job. "It would hurt for him to leave," said a leadership aide.
(More Nancy Pelosi stories.)