In this photo Feb. 9, 2011, photo, then-House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, accompanied by then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., speaks to reporters after having lunch with President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington. McCarthy, the majority leader who’s favored to become the next speaker of the House, has energetically nurtured GOP legislators in the House since he was elected to Congress nine years ago. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)