At a Wednesday press conference announcing his July 31st resignation as House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R-VA) gave an effusive endorsement of Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) quest to replace him as the leader of the GOP in the House of Representatives.
I can tell you that if my dear friend and colleague Kevin McCarthy does decide to run, I think he’d make an outstanding majority leader, and I will be backing him with my full support.
NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd believes this hurts McCarthy's chances to win his caucus' vote, "And by the way, Eric Cantor wholeheartedly endorsed him [McCarthy] which I think is the kiss of death."
Todd was a guest on Wednesday's Hugh Hewitt Show to discuss Cantor's shocking GOP primary loss and the political battle to replace him in Republican House leadership. Todd reported that some congressional Republicans want a major shake up of leadership, "I talked to a bunch of conservatives, one who went on the record, Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, who said look, Cantor’s the first one gone. We need a whole change."
The two discussed the strengths and weaknesses of two Congressmen who may be running for Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy who as Majority Whip is directly behind Cantor in the leadership food chain, and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
The conversation turned to the process where House Republicans will vote for the new Majority leader. According to the NBC Newsman, Speaker Boehner and McCarthy want a quick election (now scheduled for June 18th) because they are "panicked at the idea of a drawn out, very public leadership fight."
Hewitt: I am very concerned that Kevin would want to keep this a closed process. Is that fair? Does he want it closed?
Todd: Yeah, I think, look, if I were, look, I’m going to just be a strategist. Right, the shorter the process is and the more closed it is, advantage to somebody who’s already in leadership.
Hewitt: But are they urging people…
Todd: Just like, think about any election. That’s always the case with an incumbent, and he’s basically the de facto incumbent here. And by the way, Eric Cantor wholeheartedly endorsed him.
Hewitt: I saw that.
Todd: …which I think is the kiss of death.
Hewitt: Yeah.
Todd: I think that was the kiss of death.
Hewitt: You think Cantor’s endorsement was a kiss of death? Why?
Todd: I do, because I think, I can’t tell you, there is this sense of okay, this is, we’ve got to listen to the pace here. They want some change. You know, look, I happen to believe immigration’s part of this, but there is this aspect of leadership’s out of touch.
