BLUNT DRAWS ANOTHER CHALLENGER

He may lead the vote count at this point, but Rep. Roy Blunt's quest to become majority leader of the House hit another bump on Friday, when Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona said he wanted the job, too.

Shadegg told Human Events that fellow GOPers insisted he run:

"For the past several days, I have spoken with members all across our Conference," Shadegg said. "Based on those conversations, I believe that a majority of Republicans in the House understand the need for real, thorough reform. We must renew our commitment to the principles that won us a majority in the first place: fiscal discipline, smaller government, lower taxes, a strong national defense, returning power to the states, and greater personal freedom."

Whoever gets to 116 votes wins the race. Blunt currently has 71 supporters; his chief opponent, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, counts 37 votes on his side.

Shadegg is trying to use his close ties with the Republican Study Committee to blunt Blunt and Boehner; the RSC has more than 100 members and could use its bloc to anoint a new majority leader.