I’ll be listening in on a blogger conference call with Rep. John Shadegg in just a minute. There are two more calls scheduled later today with Rep. John Boehner and Rep. Blount. The Corner and Hugh Hewitt’s blog have been Grand Central Stations for info on the House GOP leadership race. As Glenn Reynolds notes: ” I think this has probably been the most open leadership contest in history.” Thanks to N.Z. Bear and Hugh Hewitt for moving and shaking to make this happen.

Be sure to check out the list of blogger questions for the leadership candidates here.

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1047am. Just got off the Shadegg call. He characterized his candidacy as a “dark horse campaign” and though “it may be a dangerous word to use, we are an insurgency.” Shadegg thanked the many bloggers/activists who have endorsed or embraced his candidacy and summarized his WSJ op-ed statement. He fielded questions on border security (he absolutely opposes the McCain/Kennedy-style amnesty bill), the Medicare prescription drug entitlement expansion (”one of the most disastrous things we’ve done”), the NSA surveillance program, and lobbying reforms (he reiterated his cautionary note about banning all privately-funded educational travel and reiterated his criticims of Rep. Blunt’s decision to provide office space to pharma lobbyists during the Medicare debate).

Q and O will have audio of the call soon. [Update: Here it is.]

Meanwhile, Mike Pence has endorsed Shadegg, first announced and reported on The Tony Snow Show this morning–adding to a growing list of solid conservative support:

Townhall: John Shadegg for Majority Leader
National Review: Shadegg for Leader
Club for Growth endorses Shadegg
Human Events endorses Shadegg

I was impressed by Shadegg’s candor and passionate committment to limited government (he actually broached the need to reexamine the Medicare debacle, criticizing both the White House and anti-means-testing Democrats), and he’s on the right side of immigration enforcement/national security issues.

Blogger reax:

Mike Krempasky: “I think when it comes down to it – if you want more of the same (increased spending, bigger government, more scandals) then Blunt is your guy. If you want the one that scares the daylights out of the Democrats because of his honesty and principled approach to government – Shadegg is the only answer.”

James Joyner: “Shadegg was quite impressive. He’s clearly a True Believer in the Goldwater tradition of Arizona libertarian conservatives. His opening remarks and his responses to questions were well-thought-out and showed an easy command of the issues. I’m still not sure that he is in a tactical position to win the race, but have more faith that it is at least a possibility.”

La Shawn Barber: “The man sounded sincere and straightforward to me.”
Bloggers on the call:

N.Z. Bear, The Truth Laid Bear
Hugh Hewitt, HughHewitt.com
La Shawn Barber, La Shawn Barber’s Corner
John Hawkins, Right Wing News
Jon Henke / Dale Franks, QandO
James Joyner, Outside The Beltway
Mike Krempasky, Redstate.org
Michelle Malkin, MichelleMalkin.com
Ed Morrissey, Captain’s Quarters
Greg Patterson, Espresso Pundit

***

Rep. Boehner joined bloggers for a conference call at 12:30pm EST. I couldn’t make it, but Q&A has audio here. John Hawkins at Right Wing News gives Boehner a D.

Rep. Blunt joined bloggers for a conference call at 3:00pm EST. Also couldn’t make this one, but Radioblogger has the audio and will post transcript shortly. Looks like Blunt did not answer many questions.

Steve Bainbridge gives reasons to say no to Blunt.

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