By DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
BALTIMORE – House Republican leaders pleaded for elusive unity from the disparate factions in their party as they pursue a dual election-year prize of retaining their majority and denying President Barack Obama a second term.
“Unity, unity, unity,” Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., said Friday after hearing his leadership’s overriding message at a series of private meetings at the GOP’s annual three-day retreat. The fresh appeal to many of the 242 members comes just weeks after rank-and-file opposition to a short-term extension of the payroll tax cut exposed deep divisions among Republicans and ended 2011 on a discordant political note.
Rancor in 2012, Republicans understand, would be politically perilous, especially with the American people already holding Congress in such low regard. Republicans expect Obama to campaign against the “do-nothing Congress,” using the presidential bully pulpit to try to make his case.