Just days after Democrats turned in a solid victory, a crack in the caucus’ armor has surfaced as firebrand Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has challenged veteran Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), who at 53 years in the House is considered the dean of the chamber, for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

“We will need the very best leadership in Congress and our committees to succeed. That is why after long thought I have decided to seek the chairmanship of the Committee on Energy and Commerce,” said Waxman, a member of the House energy panel and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

“I view it [Waxman’s power play] as very disruptive to the organization and agenda for the House,” said a legislative expert on natural gas issues. “After Tuesday’s victory, they [Democrats] should be working together instead of driving a wedge through the Democratic caucus. One divisive chairman in the person of Barbara Boxer is enough in Congress.” Boxer (D-CA) chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Dingell, on the other hand, “works in a centrist fashion that gets results approved by the House,” he said. “I don’t think Waxman will win [the seat]. The more centrist Democrats won’t support him. These are not people who will want to take a turn to the left.”

Some believe that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) may be behind Waxman’s power grab. There has been a history of bad blood between Dingell and Pelosi — she stripped him of authority over global warming issues last year, Politico.com reported Thursday. But Pelosi alone won’t decide who gets the chairmanship, rather it will be up to the larger Democratic caucus.

Waxman seeks to overthrow Dingell because “he smells an opportunity,” the legislative expert said. As chairman of the House oversight committee, Waxman frequently beat up on the Bush administration and its policies, but his vocal criticism — and thus his power to command the spotlight — would be muted somewhat under a Democratic administration.

At 83, “Dingell is something of a legend…He’s still very sharp and up to speed on a lot of issues, like climate change.”

Early Thursday, Democrats had gained at least 18 seats in the House, increasing the size of the party’s caucus to its largest since 1994 when it held 259 seats before Republicans gained control. Several races still are undecided.

Meanwhile, the Senate has picked up at least six Senate seats, boosting its majority to about 56 seats plus the two independents, who typically vote with the majority, said Bill Wicker, spokesman for Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Three races remain undecided. If the Democratic candidates were to win those, which is not expected, Senate Democratic leaders could obtain their much sought-after veto- and filibuster-proof 60 vote majority.

Even if they don’t reach the magical 60, “Democrats will be pretty content,” Wicker said.

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