First Shot Fired as GOP Power Struggle Looms

WASHINGTON —  A Californian has fired the opening shot in the political blood bath that could erupt later this month when House Republicans decide whether to dump one or more of their leaders because of the party’s poor election showing.

Rep. George P. Radanovich (R-Mariposa) announced Thursday he will run for one of the party’s leadership posts, Republican Conference chairman, when all GOP members meet Nov. 16 to choose their leaders for the new Congress.

And another Californian, Rep. Christopher Cox of Newport Beach, said he plans to sound out colleagues about running for a top leadership job, perhaps even challenging House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

Cox, who currently holds a mid-level leadership post as chairman of the House GOP policy committee, would be considered a longshot for toppling Gingrich. But his willingness to entertain the notion is indicative of the turmoil brewing within the GOP.

Poster Child for Everything Wrong

Indeed, in comments at a Newport Beach luncheon, Cox flatly predicted: “There will be a leadership shake-up. The damage that Newt Gingrich has sustained over being the poster child for everything that’s wrong with Washington makes him a less attractive spokesman for our ideas than almost anyone else.”

Radanovich, a winery owner, who was elected to Congress in 1994, is the first Republican to openly announce a challenge to a sitting GOP leader.

In seeking the post of conference chairman, Radanovich will take on Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). The chairman’s job is to preside over weekly closed-door meetings of all GOP House members, at which they plot legislative and political strategy. The conference chair is part of the leadership inner circle and has a big hand in the party’s communication strategy. That is precisely where many Republicans think the party has fallen short.

“Our messengers are getting in the way of our message,” Radanovich said in an interview. “Conservatives are being viewed as dislikable people.”

Party Leadership Failure Criticized

Aside from Cox, others are considering running against Gingrich or his top lieutenant, Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), as criticism grows that the leaders failed to promote a compelling political message or strategy for the midterm election.

Republicans lost five seats in the House and gained no seats in the Senate in Tuesday’s vote--a stunning disappointment because the party that does not hold the White House almost always reaps big gains in Congress in off-year elections.

Along with the criticism that the party ran an issueless campaign, House Republicans are upset at their leaders’ decision to air last-minute advertisements spotlighting President Clinton’s sex scandal, which critics say backfired and contributed to GOP losses.

The leadership issue will come to a head quickly in the House, where Republicans meet the week of Nov. 16 to organize for the new Congress, which begins in January. Senators will have their organizational meeting in early December.

While Cox mulls running against Gingrich, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bob Livingston (R-La.) already has been calling colleagues to see if they would support him in such a bid. He spoke to Gingrich the day after the elections and asked him if he had considered stepping down, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

Gingrich so far has made clear he intends to fight to keep his job, and Livingston still is simply testing the waters.

While Gingrich’s allies say no one has the stature or power base to beat him, the speaker has spent much of the last two days calling colleagues to shore up support and hear their complaints.

In the Senate, there also is considerable unhappiness among some Republicans with Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.). But few expect a serious challenge against him because there is no ready alternative.

Times staff writer Jean Pasco in Orange County contributed to this story.