Clyburn neutral in chairmen fight

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is remaining neutral in the battle between Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) over a powerful committee chairmanship.

Clyburn spokeswoman Kristie Greco disputed a Bloomberg News report circulated by Dingell supporters that the third-ranking House Democrat had endorsed Dingell, who is fighting to keep his post at the Energy and Commerce Committee.

{mosads}Greco said the report misquoted her, and that Clyburn has not offered an endorsement in the battle between Clyburn and Waxman.

Greco said Clyburn signed a letter from Congressional Black Caucus members two years ago endorsing the seniority system for determining who should chair a committee. Under that system, Dingell would keep the Energy and Commerce post.

Dingell supporters e-mailed the story to other reporters shortly after it was published.  

“Many of you have asked for regular updates on the latest developments in the whip team’s efforts for Chairman Dingell, so I wanted to make you aware of this Bloomberg News article in which Majority Whip Jim Clyburn publicly expressed support for Dingell retaining the Energy and Commerce chairmanship,” said an e-mail obtained by The Hill from Nick Choate, a press secretary for Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.). 

Updated at 6:06 p.m. 

Dingell has found support from a number of CBC members, including Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).