(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) In apparent disdain for widespread reports that Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., still lacked the votes needed Tuesday to secure the speakership of the U.S. House, the embattled lawmaker’s staff was on Monday already moving his belongings into the speaker’s office at the U.S. Capitol.
“McCarthy has already moved into the Speaker’s suite, which we’re told is standard protocol,” CNN’s Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zanona tweeted Monday. “But he’ll have to move back out if he doesn’t get the gavel, which is totally still up in the air.”
NEW: Just caught up w @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy in the Capitol.
He said he’s feeling “actually really good” as he entered the speaker of the House suite on the second floor of the Capitol.
I asked him if he’d set motion to vacate at one, and he smiled and walked in the office
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 2, 2023
GOP Leader McCarthy has moved into the speakers suite but if he fails to secure 218 he will have to move all his stuff back out @AllieRaffa pic.twitter.com/Lb2swMgQ2p
— Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotnbc) January 2, 2023
McCarthy’s confidence might be misplaced, as opposition to his leadership continued to fuel speculation about Tuesday’s outcome.
GAETZ says “brief and productive” meeting with MCCARTHY…. Says over and over again he is a firm no pic.twitter.com/dnfwLPZv7M
— Haley Talbot (@haleytalbotnbc) January 3, 2023
“I do not believe he will ever get to 218 votes, and I refuse to assist him in his effort to get those votes,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, tweeted Monday.
Nothing changes when nothing changes, and that must start from the top. Time to make the change or get out of the way. pic.twitter.com/xtTrQKlsxZ
— RepScottPerry (@RepScottPerry) January 2, 2023
“The upcoming speaker vote is about more than defeating McCarthy and electing a better leader in January,” Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., wrote in a column last month for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“This is about striking a blow against the uni-party swamp cartel, and defeating a Republican system that is hostile to conservatives, resents its base voters, and resists empowering individual members in order to retain power in the hands of an elite few.”
Good’s opinion hadn’t changed on the eve of the speaker’s vote, even after McCarthy reportedly agreed to concessions from his critics. Asked who the rebelling forces would choose over McCarthy, Good offered a strategy in the making, according to the Daily Mail.
“What we will do is block Kevin,” Good told Fox News on Monday. “I suspect there will be 10 to 15 members who will vote against him on the first ballot tomorrow – that will vote for Andy Biggs.
“But then I think you will see on the second ballot an increasing number of members vote for a true candidate who can represent the conservative conference. Motivate the base,” Good said.
