During a colorful, freewheeling news conference, Mr. Powell speculated — apparently, without any direct knowledge — that Mr. Rangel would seek re-election and then resign, to control the appointment of his successor -- a suggestion that aides to Mr. Rangel immediately dismissed.
Time's up. Under the Constitution, there is no way to get a House seat by appointment. Filling a vacancy requires a special election. (The Seventeenth Amendment does allow for the temporary appointment of senators, but that provision does not apply to the House.) Online comments following the story suggested that the passage probably referred to New York election law, which enables party leaders to control nominations in special elections.
