Rep. Diane BlackTennessee's Rep. Marsha Blackburn is getting some attention in national media speculation about prospective candidates to become the next speaker of the U.S. House and her Tennessee Republican colleague, Diane Black, has at least been mentioned.
House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee member Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, asks questions in this file photo.From a Politico piece:
More than a half-dozen GOP lawmakers are considering running to lead the fractious Republican Conference if Ryan doesn't step up. Texas Rep. Mike Conaway and Tennessee Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Diane Black have all been approached about jumping into the race. Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, California Rep. Darrell Issa and Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole are considering making a play for the speaker's gavel as well.
Blackburn, who ran for conference chair in 2007 and lost, is also looking at a run.
"I've had lots of my colleagues contact me yesterday evening and this morning and I've promised I would listen to them," Blackburn said. "It's good to hear them out. I've promised to listen to them and that's at this point all I do. We're eventually going to come around to the right person who can lead our caucus."
The Los Angeles Times has a more cryptic quote from Blackburn suggesting she may be among GOP congressmen who don't want the job: "It's not on my to-do list."
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