Doofus Jason Chaffetz as Speaker of the House? Well, maybe, at least according to Politico.
House Oversight and Government Affairs Chairman Jason Chaffetz is planning to run for House speaker, taking on Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in what appears to be a long-shot bid to lead House Republicans, according to multiple sources.
The Utah Republican, first elected to Congress in 2008, is launching a campaign less than a week before the Oct. 8 leadership elections for the House GOP Conference. The date for a floor vote to pick the next speaker has not been set yet, but Thursday's conference vote will name the party's top contender for the post.
McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the overwhelming favorite to win, and it’s unclear at this time how many votes Chaffetz can garner.
But Chaffetz's bid could throw a wrench into the process. Some lawmakers have privately questioned whether McCarthy is a strong enough leader to unify an increasingly divided and unwieldy GOP caucus. Others on the far right want someone who's more conservative.
Chaffetz must think he can ride that disastrous Planned Parenthood hearing to victory. Good luck with that.
