AP: DeLay to withdraw from Texas race

AP: DeLay to withdraw from Texas race

Decision would allow the GOP to field a write-in candidate

WASHINGTON - The Associated Press reports a Republican strategist says former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay intends to withdraw as a candidate for Congress, allowing the G-O-P could field a write-in candidate to seek the Houston-area seat that DeLay gave up in June.

The development came one day after Texas Republicans lost a court battle in their bid to replace DeLay's name on the ballot and name their own candidate.

On Monday, Texas Republicans abandoned their court fight to replace DeLay on the November ballot after being turned back by the Supreme Court. That decision came after Justice Antonin Scalia, earlier in the afternoon, rejected Texas Republicans' request to block an appeals court ruling saying DeLay's name should remain on the ballot.

Republicans had requested the stay earlier in the day in order to prepare their full appeal.

Democrats were suing to keep DeLay on the ballot, with the former lawmaker's legal troubles becoming a symbol for claims of Republican corruption.

DeLay won a March primary before resigning June 9 from Congress.

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