Rep. Kevin McCarthy claims progress in chaotic House speaker fight after talks with GOP rebels

Rep. Kevin McCarthy was hoping the third day is the charm as he tries to win over a handful of far right-wing rebels against his chaotic bid for speaker of the House.

After losing six straight votes over two days, McCarthy met after midnight and again in the morning Thursday in hopes of cutting a deal with GOP critics.

Despite claims of “encouraging progress,” there was no sign that he has the votes needed to become the leader of the new GOP-controlled House anytime soon.

“No deal yet,” McCarthy said late Wednesday. “But a lot of progress.”

A third day of now-familiar GOP dirty laundry drama on display was set to unfold when the House is gaveled to order at noon.

McCarthy can afford to lose the votes of no more than four Republican lawmakers to win a majority of those voting, a tall order given that he has lost at least 19 in each of the first six votes.

At least five GOP hardliners are said to be adamantly opposed to backing McCarthy under any circumstances, meaning his hope of a dramatic breakthrough remains wishful thinking for now. Some even want him evicted from the speaker’s plush office inside the Capitol, underlining their disdain.

As Republicans squabble, newly minted Democratic House leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) denounced the unending Republican “bickering, backbiting and backstabbing.”

“We are ready to go to work for the American people but we need a willing partner on the other side,” said Jeffries, whose district is in Brooklyn.

McCarthy has reportedly offered to cave on a slew of the rebels’ demands, including allowing any one lawmaker to force a no-confidence vote, more seats on the pivotal rules committee for right-wing extremists and big changes to the process of passing spending bills.

But even his backers admit that McCarthy is nowhere near wrapping up enough support to actually win.

If more votes are held without tangible signs that McCarthy is nearing victory, most insiders believe McCarthy will start to lose support, a trend that could force him to throw in the towel at some point.

There have been no serious negotiations yet over a potential fall-back candidate. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Texas) is McCarthy’s top lieutenant and would be the most obvious second choice for his supporters.

The House cannot conduct any business before it elects a speaker, meaning the GOP’s intramural feud is effectively holding Congress hostage.

Democrats have enthusiastically voted unanimously for Jeffries on all six ballots so far. After replacing former Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a no-drama transition, he repeatedly won their 212 votes, besting McCarthy for the highest total.

If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority.

It’s a strategy former House speakers, including Pelosi and moderate Republican John Boehner, used when they confronted opposition, winning with fewer than 218 votes.

A more unlikely scenario calls for a group of Republican moderates to join Democrats in getting behind a compromise candidate, with two former Michigan Republican lawmakers, ex-Rep. Fred Upton and Rep. Justin Amash saying they would consider playing such a role.

In perhaps the most far-fetched scenario, the GOP squabble could somehow open the door for Jeffries to win the vote and take the speaker’s gavel at least temporarily.