Rift With Pelosi Hampers Frost

[OnBackground]

from today's Roll Call:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has repeatedly rebuffed former Rep. Martin Frost’s (Texas) attempts to secure her support in his race for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, stunting his hopes of emerging as the alternative candidate to frontrunning former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

-----

Though Pelosi assured Frost that she had no problem with him as head of the party, her daughter Christine, who is chief of staff to Rep. John Tierney (Mass.), circulated a proposal via e-mail last week that would install Dean as chairman with former Rep. Tim Roemer (Ind.) handling the day-to-day activities of the committee.

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has been sounding out labor leaders about the possibility of unifying behind either Frost or political operative Donnie Fowler.

[Goldeneye]

1. So...whats this all about?

"Dean as chairman with former Rep. Tim Roemer (Ind.) handling the day-to-day activities of the committee"

[MaineDem]

2. Good giref...Roemer???

He doesn't have much support within the DNC from what I've heard.

Labor is expected to endorse today. This could be interesting since the State Chairs and Vice Chairs endorsed Dean yesterday.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Roemer????

Nope. Sorry. No can do for number two!

Put Dean in as Chair and Fowler as cleanup grunt number two.

[davidinalameda]

4. I don't want Roemer in charge of anything

and I can't imagine why Peolosi keeps pushing him

she's not going to be Speaker of the House

and if she keeps this crap up, I wouldn't be surprised if she gets a challenge from the left next year

[quiet.american]

5. Who can we sound out about replacing Reid?

"For his part, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has been sounding out labor leaders about the possibility of unifying behind either Frost or political operative Donnie Fowler."

For the love of God, Harry Reid, unifying behind Frost or Fowler?! WHY!!!!

[mattclearing]

6. The fact that it's either Frost of Fowler shows that issues mean nothing

to Reid. Aren't they totally different people?

It's like saying "I'd be happy with Joe Lieberman or Russ Feingold."

Reid hasn't totally stepped on my toes yet, and he's hit Bush with some great zingers, but I'm still waiting for him to be significantly better than Tom Daschle.