Pelosi Ahead in Race for Dem. Minority Leader

Pelosi’s chief rival, Rep. Martin Frost of Texas removed himself from consideration for minority leader in a letter to colleagues, according to the Associated Press.

“It is clear to me that Nancy Pelosi has the votes of a majority of the caucus. In light of this fact, today I am releasing all of my commitments,” Frost wrote, according to the AP.

Frost, considered a moderate, was set to take on the more liberal Pelosi in a vote among the Democratic Caucus next week. Pelosi and Frost were respectively second and third in Democratic House leadership under departing Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

Gephardt announced Thursday that he would relinquish his position in the wake of Democratic losses on Election Day.

If successful in her leadership bid, the 62-year-old Pelosi is expected to move the party to the left — away from the accommodating centrist themes many Democrats touted in their campaigns.

“To win back the House in 2004, we need a unified party that will draw clear distinctions between our vision of the future and that espoused by the Republicans,” Pelosi said.

U.S. Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee confirmed Friday that he would also vie for the top job, in an effort to realign the party with the electorate.

Ford, a 32-year-old, four-term congressman, said early Friday that the party needs a new generation of leaders in the wake of widespread Democratic election losses.

“I think my colleagues on the Democratic side are interested in radical change and, if they are, I submit that my candidacy and my leadership would offer that change. It would be not only me, but a whole new generation of leadership,” Ford said. “I’ve offered my candidacy because frankly it’s the only true change in this race.”

Ford is a member of the moderate-to-conservative “Blue Dog” Democratic coalition in the House, but said he would work with all factions of the party to build coalitions.

House Democrats are expected to pick their new leader next Thursday.