Pelosi Poised to Make History on Hill

House Democrats are planning to choose a new No. 2 leader Oct. 10, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco is one of two contenders.

If elected House minority whip--a post formerly held by such notables as Vice President Dick Cheney, Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.)--Pelosi would become the first woman to rise to Capitol Hill’s top leadership ranks.

She also would become the first Californian in such a job since former House Majority Whip Tony Coelho (D-Merced) resigned in 1989.

Pelosi, running against Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, said Friday that, based on commitments of support for her, she has the secret ballot race locked up. But the Hoyer camp and aides to some Democrats who have not publicly declared allegiance say the contest is neck-and-neck.

Pelosi, 61, a 14-year House veteran, is a top fund-raiser and senior member of the House appropriations and intelligence panels. Hoyer, 62, a 20-year House veteran, also is a senior member of the appropriations panel and a longtime party insider.

The current Democratic whip, David E. Bonior of Michigan, announced earlier this month that he would give up his leadership post in January to concentrate on his gubernatorial campaign.

Those eligible to vote in the whip election include the House’s 210 Democratic representatives. Also eligible are the four nonvoting House delegates (representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands) and the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico--all Democrats.

A simple majority of the 215-member caucus, or 108 votes, is required to win.

Pelosi claimed to have commitments of support from 120 members. But Capitol Hill insiders caution that such commitments are often ephemeral when a contest is done by secret ballot. Hoyer claims to have 101 committed supporters.