Doolittle Calls Press Conference, Rumors Fly On Retirement

Embattled GOP Rep. John Doolittle (Calif.) has scheduled a press conference for this morning in Roseville, Calif., and Republican insiders are speculating that he may announce his retirement at that time.

Doolittle has been under seige since FBI agents raided his home last April as part of the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of imprisoned former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Julie Doolittle, the congressman's wife, did consulting work for Abramoff. Doolittle himself wrote to a federal agency on behalf of an Abramoff tribal gaming client.

While the California Republican has denied any link between the two, House GOP leaders forced Doolittle off the powerful Appropriations Committee following the FBI raid, and Doolittle's chances for winning a tenth term in the House have faded, according to recent polls.

House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) met privately with Doolittle in December, but it was unclear if Boehner urged him to retire or resign.

Doolittle's aides denied a story on a California blog earlier this week that Doolittle was preparing to end his re-election bid, but GOP insiders now believe Doolittle could announce his retirement today.

If he does decide to retire, several candidates would be viable contenders for the GOP nomination to win the 4th District, reports Politico's Josh Kraushaar. They include former state Assemblyman Ted Gaines, Iraq war veteran Eric Egland, and former state Assemblyman Rico Oller.

Democrat Charlie Brown, who Doolittle narrowly defeated in 2006, is already running again.