US House in limbo as Republican Scalise appears short of votes for speaker
By David Morgan, Richard Cowan and Moira Warburton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday nominated Steve Scalise to serve as speaker following last week's ouster of Kevin McCarthy, but delayed further action when he appeared to be short of the support needed to win a vote of the full chamber.
Scalise, now No. 2 on the Republican leadership ladder, edged rival Jim Jordan in a secret ballot vote to secure his party's nomination for the top post.
Lawmakers had been told to expect a 3 p.m. ET (1900 GMT) vote, but that hour came and went with no action after several of Jordan's backers said they would not support Scalise in a vote on the House floor.
Republicans can afford only a handful of defections as they control the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority and Democrats are not expected to vote for any Republican candidate.
«We're working hard to get unified. We need to get unified because the world is not waiting,» Scalise, 58, told reporters. «Obviously we still have work to do.»
Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry told reporters a vote «could be as early as today.»
«It's not over yet. That was the inside race. Now the outside race starts,» said Representative Thomas Massie, who had voted for Jordan. Massie and said he expected to meet privately with Scalise ahead of a floor vote.
The tally was 113 for Scalise and 99 for Jordan, lawmakers said.
Jordan plans to vote for Scalise on the floor and is encouraging his colleagues to do the same, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
McCarthy in January had to endure 15 rounds of voting before clinching the speakership.
Before selecting Scalise, Republicans rejected a proposal that would have required their
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