With the growing chatter about some new help for Karl Rove and Andy Card at the White House — and the President’s refusal to tamp down the speculation at his WH news conference — gonna go out on a limb and predict former Texas Rep. Tom Loeffler will be the guy, IF there is a guy.
Here’s the list of speculative names from today’s New York Times:
“Two Republicans close to the White House who insisted on anonymity to discuss advice they give to Mr.
Bush’s inner circle said the names being suggested to the president included Michael O. Leavitt, secretary of health and human services; Marc Racicot, former chairman of the Republican National Committee; Donald L. Evans, a former commerce secretary; and Ed Gillespie, a former chairman of the Republican Party who shepherded Mr. Bush’s two Supreme Court nominations through the Senate. The list also includes two former members of Congress with ties to Mr. Bush, Thomas G. Loeffler of Texas and Bill Paxon of New York.”
While Don Evans and Eddie Gillespie would both be effective in the White House and on the Hill, Loeffler’s status as a former member of Congress is very important in the current environment. He’s also a very plugged in heavyweight lobbyist, respected inside the Beltway, and has longstanding ties to both Karl and the President — thus passing the loyalty/trustworthy criterion that is the bottom line.
Racicot is too nice, Leavitt is doing a great job where he is.
So Loeffler is the first choice guess, followed by Evans and Gillespie.
The least likely choice is Bill Paxon.