Politics | Wed Oct 7, 2015 1:10pm EDT

McCarthy seen short of full majority in House speaker race

WASHINGTON | BY DAVID LAWDER AND SUSAN CORNWELL

U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy appears to have locked up enough support among his fellow Republicans to be nominated for speaker, but has not nailed down the 218 votes needed to be elected by the full chamber, Republican lawmakers said on Wednesday.

House of Representatives Republicans are scheduled to cast secret ballots on Thursday on their choice to replace House Speaker John Boehner, who is resigning from Congress on Oct. 30.

McCarthy, currently the No. 2 House Republican, and the front-runner in the race, has two announced Republican opponents for the job - House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Representative Daniel Webster of Florida.

A group of around 40 of the most conservative House Republicans - enough to keep him from being elected speaker in a public vote - were largely still non-committal after a candidate forum on Tuesday.

The Freedom Caucus is expected to meet on Wednesday to decide which candidate to support.

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