Maryland Black Caucus Members Hoping For Hoyer-Clyburn Deal

Maryland's black Democrats are in a pickle as Reps. Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn vie for the No. 2 leadership spot in the next Congress.

Geography ties them to Hoyer (Md.), a 30-year House veteran and current majority leader, while their membership in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) aligns them with Clyburn (S.C.), a nine-term lawmaker and outgoing majority whip.

Torn between conflicting allegiances, Maryland Reps. Elijah Cummings (D) and Donna Edwards (D) have adopted a strategy: Don't take sides and pray for a deal.

"[Speaker] Nancy Pelosi is going to work out a deal with the three of them in the room that makes sure that we have a leadership table that really represents our caucus and is strong enough to keep us going," Edwards told MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Wednesday night.

When Matthews asked who should be minority whip, Edwards said, "I'm not voting on that."

The remarks echo those of Cummings earlier in the week, who also declined to pick sides in the contest.     More here