WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senior Defense Department officials say Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has told them nobody should stay for just another year, but that he wants them for the rest of President Bush's second term. That is read as a signal that Rumsfeld intends to serve out the next three years. Rumsfeld finishing his term would contradict wide speculation that he will quit soon after this week's Iraqi parliamentary elections. That is now considered unlikely even if he does not complete the full term. A footnote: White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card has said flatly there is no truth whatsoever to reports he is about to move to the Treasury to replace Secretary John Snow. GOP DECISION A decision on whether to hold new elections for House majority leader to replace Tom DeLay may not be made until the House Republican leadership meets at Cambridge on the Eastern Shore of Maryland following President Bush's State of the Union Address on Jan. 31. By then, it may be clear whether DeLay will be able to win acquittal from Texas criminal prosecution in time to obviate an election. Majority Whip Roy Blunt, who has been acting majority leader since DeLay's indictment, probably would be challenged for the job by Rep. John Boehner. DeLay has advised colleagues to keep Dec. 27 circled as the date when court decisions in Texas may provide a clearer outlook on what lies ahead. MCCAIN OR ROMNEY? Campaign consultant Mike Murphy, who has been handling Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's exploration of a presidential candidacy, will not run Romney's campaign if Sen. John McCain enters the race. Murphy worked on McCain's 2000 campaign, but is not on good terms with the senator's current political advisers. However, he says he will not work for any candidate opposing McCain. Murphy has been based in Los Angeles since guiding Arnold Schwarzenegger to California's governorship in 2003. A footnote: Washington-based consultant Scott Reed held a Nov. 16 fund-raiser at his home that brought in $200,000 for McCain's political action committees. Reed also has ties to Romney and has not decided whom to support in 2008. GILMORE AGAIN Continued... |