http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/third-candidate-to-challenge-boehner-for-speakership/?pos=fbbtnBy Emma Dumain
Posted at 11:41 a.m. Jan. 6
A little more than an hour before the House is due to hold an in-person, roll call vote to elect the speaker, a third candidate emerged as an alternative candidate to John A. Boehner of Ohio.
A group of Republicans who want a more conservative lawmaker to lead their party in the chamber has recruited Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida to throw his name into the ring.
Webster, who is entering his third term, would not comment on his candidacy in a hallway interview with CQ Roll Call Tuesday morning.
But Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana both of whom plan to vote for a candidate other than Boehner, confirmed the news.
A member of the 2010 class, Webster has conservative credentials but is less of a flame-thrower than the two other members who plan to put themselves forward as speaker candidates: Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Ted Yoho of Florida.
In order to force a second ballot on the floor Tuesday, the first day of the 114th Congress, Boehner will have to lose more than 28 votes.
Massie, one of the most active participants in the group of House Republicans working to secure votes for a Boehner alternative, said that as of Tuesday morning there were 17 members committed to supporting someone else.
