Condit Keeps Key Democratic Endorsement

While some high-profile California Democrats have abandoned Rep. Gary A. Condit in his quest for political survival, at least one appears to be sticking by him: Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.

Pelosi--who next month becomes minority whip, the party’s second-highest House post--issued a brief statement Monday asserting that she endorsed Condit for reelection in his Central Valley district “a long time ago.”

While a Pelosi spokesman declined to elaborate on the statement, it seemed to indicate that she would not back away from Condit despite the controversy that has enveloped the 12-year House veteran about his ties to intern Chandra Levy, who has been missing since the spring.

Levy’s family has said the two were having an affair, and Condit has reportedly admitted as much to police. But publicly he has said only that he shared a “very close” relationship with the 24-year-old Levy.

Authorities have not accused Condit of wrongdoing in Levy’s disappearance, but many prominent Democrats and others have criticized his handling of the matter.

Pelosi’s position on Condit matters for two reasons: She is the highest-ranking House Democrat to endorse him for reelection, and she is considered one of the House’s most prominent feminists.

But the sparse, three-sentence statement from Pelosi also showed the distance that even longtime allies would like to put between themselves and Condit.

There were no effusive words about his record in Pelosi’s statement. Instead, it said that Condit’s fate “is a matter between him and his constituents” and stressed that she has not tried to persuade other lawmakers to support him in the race.

Condit, of Ceres, faces a strong primary challenge March 5 in the 18th Congressional District from a former aide, state Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza of Merced. Cardoza has been endorsed by state Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres, at least 40 Assembly members and a few House Democrats.

The leading Republican in the race is state Sen. Dick Monteith of Modesto.

Last week, Gov. Gray Davis, previously a Condit ally, indicated he would remain neutral in the Democratic primary. House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) is also staying on the sidelines.

Condit’s son, Chad, who is heading the reelection campaign, did not return a phone call seeking comment on the Pelosi statement.

Doug White, Cardoza’s campaign manager, dismissed the endorsement as “what you would expect.”

Condit and Pelosi, White noted, serve together on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Condit also endorsed Pelosi earlier this year in her campaign for House Democratic whip, and she held a fund-raiser for him last March. Pelosi’s position in the race was first reported Monday in Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.