With GOP circling, DCCC chief mum on Wu’s reelection bid

The head of House Democrats’ campaign committee maintained a silence Monday about the erratic behavior of Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.), signaling that the party might not be willing to back the seven-term lawmaker’s reelection bid.

Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, declined to comment on Wu’s future.

{mosads}Wu hails from a Democratic-leaning district, but recent revelations about his behavior ahead of last November’s midterm vote have emboldened several GOP contenders to consider challenging him.

Israel’s goal is to win back control of the House, and playing defense in Wu’s district could be a major distraction. Democrats need to regain control of 25 seats in order to seize the Speaker’s gavel from the new Republican majority.

Asked if the DCCC had any comment about Wu’s plan to seek reelection, Israel paused. “Not right now,” he said Monday night after leaving the House chamber.

Wu filed a a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission last Wednesday despite calls from major Oregon newspapers for him to step down. The congressman has been under pressure in recent weeks after it emerged that days before the Nov. 2 vote he sent staffers a picture of himself wearing a tiger costume and e-mails written in the voices of his children. His behavior prompted seven staffers to quit their jobs, according to the Associated Press.

Wu wasn’t in Washington on Monday and missed voting on three pieces of legislation, but his spokesman said the Democrat intends to seek reelection.

“Congressman Wu has no plan to announce his retirement,” spokesman Erik Dorey told The Ballot Box. “His only plan is to keep working hard for the people of Oregon.”

Wu was returning to Washington Monday night with the intention of resuming his official duties on Tuesday, Dorey added.

Meanwhile, sports management consultant Rob Cornilles (R) said he is thinking about challenging Wu, and state Sen. Bruce Starr (R) is also mulling a bid. Cornilles lost to Wu by 13 points in November, but stories about the Democrat’s unusual behavior weren’t published during the campaign.

—Bob Cusack contributed to this report.