Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and his supporters are trying to "bully" holdout Republicans into backing his candidacy for Speaker of the House, warned conservative columnist Matt Lewis in The Daily Beast — and there's a chance it could work.
This comes amid reports from as recently as this weekend that roughly 20 Republican lawmakers were unwilling to back the House Judiciary Chairman and top Freedom Caucus member, to lead the House, a number that is dwindling as key McCarthy allies and Jordan skeptics like Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) have committed to backing him.
"'Several of Mr. Jordan’s supporters have posted the phone numbers of mainstream G.O.P. lawmakers they count as holdouts,' according to The New York Times," wrote Lewis. "Meanwhile, a producer for Fox News’s Sean Hannity reportedly began a thinly veiled pressure campaign by querying GOP House members about their refusal to support Jordan ... Not since a Tucker Carlson questionnaire scared Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis into throwing Ukraine under the bus has 'just asking questions' been so effective."
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The consequences of a Jordan victory would be profound even beyond whatever policies he might enact, wrote Lewis. "If Jordan wins, it means Republicans will have elected a speaker who opposes Ukraine funding and wanted then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Joe Biden's electoral votes. What is more, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s insurgent strategy will have been successful, as a small group (just four percent) of House Republicans will have unilaterally ousted a House speaker — and replaced him with their chosen successor."
Meanwhile, Lewis noted, Jordan is trying to contrast the pressure tactics with a new "dear colleague" letter to Republicans pleading for unity.
"Sincere or not, Team Jordan’s 'good cop/bad cop' routine is smart. It provides normal Republicans with an off-ramp to support Jordan, while also saving face. It is, after all, more honorable to be sweet-talked than to be intimidated," concluded Lewis. Or at least, "If Jim Jordan becomes Speaker Jordan, that’s what they will tell themselves, anyway."
