Gowdy says he won’t run

During his scrum, Chaffetz captured the budding rationale for Gowdy, at least among his supporters in the party’s younger ranks, with a sentence: “He can make the case and persuade a jury better than anyone else I’ve ever met”.

After a morning of Capitol Hill buzz about Gowdy, his South Carolina colleague Rep. Mick Mulvaney said at lunchtime that Gowdy had ruled out the idea.

Trey Gowdy, the South Carolina representative and chair of the House select committee on Benghazi, has been the thorn in the side of the former secretary and current White House frontrunner – and has forced her to testify before him next month.

A Gowdy spokeswoman said today that Gowdy is focused on his role as chairman of the special House committee investigating the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and “will serve in that capacity so long as the committee exists”.

Sitting House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is widely seen as the front-runner to replace Boehner, though he faces a challenge from Florida GOP Rep. Daniel Webster, one of the chamber’s most conservative members.

But when asked late Tuesday whether he’s running for majority leader, Gowdy answered: “I’m not”.

Gowdy’s office said he was looking forward to the meeting Tuesday. Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, R-Ga., have both announced bids. “I think that the Republican Conference needs somebody who can unite the body and represent us far and wide and articulate the message… I think Trey Gowdy as the majority leader would be heaven-sent”. Trey is a talented and incredibly bright fighter who will move our country in a better direction. It’s hard to be majority leader if you can’t handle personal conflict.

“After talking w’ @TGowdySC for 20 mins, he made it clear that he is OUT of any consideration for any leadership position”, Mulvaney posted. “He wants to focus on his work on the Benghazi commission”. Earlier within the day, Utah GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz tossed out Gowdy’s name for the No. 2 spot within the Home. Chaffetz said Gowdy isn’t the kind of person who would “beat the bushes” for votes, but would be responsive to a draft movement. “I’ve talked to Gowdy as recently as a few minutes ago, so I feel pretty confident in that position”.

“I can’t imagine”, Mulvaney said when asked if he thought Gowdy would bow to pressure.