It's now a 2-woman race for top Democrat on House spending panel

Our colleagues report for National Journal subscribers the latest on the race for top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee: Rep. Jim Moran is out, leaving Reps. Nita Lowey of New York and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio.

Katy O'Donnell on the state of the race:

Both women bill themselves as tough negotiators who can also reach across the aisle and work with Republicans. Lowey has support from party leadership, while Kaptur has more of a maverick voting record, but both women have put in serious time on the committee: Kaptur joined in 1989, and Lowey in 1993. And, crucially, both lawmakers support earmarks.

None of the offices involved would give a whip count, but Lowey, who has a better relationship with her leadership than Kaptur, is the favorite to win the post.

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