Fissure in the NH House Republican Caucus?by: Jennifer DalerFri Nov 19, 2010 at 14:33:59 PM EST |
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We know that Bill O'Brien (R-Mont Vernon)is the GOP nominee for Speaker of the House. He won on the second ballot. But the first ballot vote count is interesting. It was 140 for O'Brien, 129 for Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), 7 for John Reagan (R-Deerfield) and 4 for Susan Emerson(R-Rindge). That is basically a tie, because when you add up the not-O'Brien votes, they equal the number of votes for him. The Republican caucus put a good front on it, making it unanimous by acclimation, but I doubt that all are happy with the result.
Rep. O'Brien is only just beginning his third term in the House, so he does not have much experience with the institution. The number of freshman Republicans is large, and they tend to be more ideological than their multi-term colleagues. The question is how the more experienced, less ideological Republicans will handle this, and what O'Brien, who is all but certain to become Speaker, does. |