DeLay wants off state ballot

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, August 8, 2006

WASHINGTON – Dogged by scandal, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said Tuesday he will do whatever is necessary to remove his name from the ballot, a step that will allow the party to field a write-in candidate in hopes of holding his seat in Texas.

DeLay acted one day after Texas Republicans lost a court battle in their bid to name a replacement candidate for him on the November ballot.

“I will take the actions necessary to remove my name from the Texas ballot. To do anything else would be hypocrisy,” DeLay said in a statement.