Craddick counting on Craddick Dems to stay in power

According to Smith, the balance of power on the second ballot would be the 10 Craddick D's, Democrats who support Craddick, and 10 ABC (Anybody But Craddick) Republicans.

The speaker's office, as has been its practice, declined to comment on strategy.

Craddick's opponents dismiss the scenario as wishful thinking from a leader who was re-elected as speaker with a 12-vote margin at the start of the 2007 legislative session and five months later quelled a second rebellion, led by his own GOP lieutenants, by refusing to allow a vote on a motion to remove him.

"Craddick as consensus candidate? Yeah, that'll play well," Democratic consultant Kelly Fero said. "It's another tone-deaf reading of the House and the voters who put them there.