Rep. Blunt: Congress' low poll numbers are chimp's fault

[rainbow4321]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8FFAF7O9.html

Rep. Roy Blunt, the acknowledged front-runner, drew criticism from both his rivals in the race for House majority leader on Monday as all three contenders sought support from rank and file conservatives.

Blunt, R-Mo., said he remains confident of a first-ballot win at Thursday's elections to pick a successor to Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas. "If anybody can count members of the House, I can count members of the House," he said, referring to his experience as GOP whip.

Boehner also responded with a simple "yes" when asked whether he believes Blunt has made commitments to individual Republicans to secure their votes. He offered no specific examples, and Blunt denies having done so.

Republicans confront poor polls as they settle in for the new session of Congress, a topic Blunt was asked about when he spoke to about 65 or so conservatives. Burson Taylor, Blunt's spokeswoman, said the congressman responded that President Bush's own low polls are partly the cause. He went on to say that House Republicans must take steps to make sure lawmakers "can advance our message" better than is now the case, she added. As an example, Blunt said Republicans should try not to pass major legislation in the middle of the night, she added.