Pelosi supports Murtha for majority leader

November 13th, 2006

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says she is supporting Representative John Murtha for the post of majority leader.

"For all you have done for Democrats in the past and especially this last year, I am pleased to support your candidacy for majority leader for the 110th Congress," Pelosi wrote in a letter to Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat.

The popular Murtha, 73, called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq last year in a move that Pelosi said "changed the national debate" and made Iraq a central issue in the Nov. 7 midterm elections.

Pelosi did not urge other lawmakers to vote for Mr. Murtha, however, and senior House Democrats have said they believe that Mr. Hoyer has the votes to win the majority leader position, aided by some veterans who see him as a moderate voice and a potential check on Ms. Pelosi. Mr. Hoyer released a letter this weekend stating that he had the public support of more than half the Democrats elected last week.