DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING
Democratic National Committee (DNC) members were not happy when the party's congressional leaders urged them to elect former Rep. Tim Roemer as DNC chairman.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi both backed Roemer without consulting the 447 DNC members. Since they actually will select the chairman, the members resent the congressional intervention.
During six terms in the House (1991-2002) representing South Bend, Ind., Roemer built a centrist voting record and a reputation for being pro-life. His first national exposure came this year while serving on the independent 9/11 commission. However, he has had little contact with DNC members.
UNREST ON THE RIGHT
Secretary of Health and Human Services-designate Mike Leavitt during the Senate confirmation process may come under fire from social conservatives who consider him even worse from their standpoint than his predecessor, Tommy Thompson.
The complaint with Leavitt has much less to do with his current record heading the Environmental Protection Agency than his previous performance as governor of Utah. He vetoed abstinence education and dropped the state of Utah's case defending anti-abortion laws. His nomination confirmed the feeling among social conservatives that they are being shut out of the White House.
A footnote: Immediately after Leavitt's nomination was announced, he was endorsed by Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania (chairman of the Senate Republican Conference). Following Santorum's strong support for the renomination of liberal Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, his backing of Leavitt widens his rift with the social conservative constituency that once looked to him for leadership.