Nick Rahall is looking to take James Oberstar's old slot as the top Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Aftermath: Dems' committee shuffle

Veteran Democratic survivors of Tuesday's electoral bloodbath are beginning to pick their way through the carnage, looking to advance through the ranks of the fallen on the committees dealing with transportation, energy and natural resources.

Rep. Nick Rahall is eyeing a jump from the chairmanship of the Natural Resources Committee to the ranking member spot on Transportation and Infrastructure, where Rep. James Oberstar was ousted from office after 36 years, according to several senior Democratic operatives.


That could leave the top job on the Natural Resources Committee open for Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey, who is still deciding whether he wants to give up the premier slot on telecommunications policy, slide into the resources post or succeed defeated Rep. Rick Boucher on the energy subcommittee.

"He's going to choose the right place for him to make the biggest impact. That could be resources, that could be telecom or that could be energy," a source close to Markey told POLITICO. "I think it would be foolish to predict what his decision would end up being. I don't think anyone, including him, knows for sure."

Markey met with outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at length on Wednesday, though it was not clear whether she sought his counsel on her own career conundrum — to remain in Democratic leadership or leave it — advised him or both.

Rahall could face competition for the top post on the transportation panel from Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon or Rep. Jerry Costello of Illinois. None of the three lawmakers' offices responded immediately to requests for comment.

Markey, first elected in 1976, is popular among House progressives. But he angered some of his colleagues by sitting on a pile of more than $3 million in campaign cash while the Democratic majority went down in flames. His backers note that he was a prolific fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, totaling nearly $2 million for the election cycle.

"What the congressman's doing right now is he's talking to his colleagues and evaluating all of his options, not ruling anything in or ruling anything out," Costello spokesman David Gillies said.

Correction: The name of the Natural Resources Committee was incorrect in the original version of this story.

CORRECTION: Corrected by: Alex Byers @ 11/04/2010 03:02 PM Correction: The name of the Natural Resources Committee was incorrect in the original version of this story. MADE BY BYERS at 303p on 11/04 per Marty.