House Majority Leader Vote Set for Feb. 2

Moving quickly to dash an effort to move up the date for the election of a new majority leader, House Speaker Dennis Hastert informed the GOP caucus today that the vote would take place on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Hastert's decision, which was distributed via e-mail by Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce's office, said the scheduling decision had been made "by the direction of the Speaker, in an effort to accommodate Members' schedules."

So much for Pryce's e-mail to GOP lawmakers earlier today seeking their thoughts on holding the vote on either the 26th or 27th.

While the eyes of Congress will be on Boehner and Blunt on Feb. 2, most Americans will be wondering about the annual vote cast by a groundhog by the name of Punxsutawney Phil...