Money-laundering charge stands

By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — A Texas judge threw out a conspiracy charge Monday against former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay but refused to dismiss a money-laundering charge, moving him closer to a criminal trial.

	The trio of trash...the Delay crooks scramble past photogs on way to Cheney fund raiser.
		By Tim Johnson, AP

Senior District Judge Pat Priest's decision came as a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll indicated DeLay may be in political trouble at home. (Related item: Poll results)

DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden called the ruling a victory and said DeLay "looks forward to his eventual and absolute exoneration."

A Thursday-Sunday poll of registered voters in DeLay's suburban Houston district found that if an election for his seat was held today he would lose to an unnamed Democrat 49%-36%. DeLay was returned to Congress last year by a 55%-41% margin.

The poll showed he now has a favorable rating of 37% among registered voters in his district. More than half — 52% — have an unfavorable opinion of him. And 55% said the charges against him are definitely or probably true. Only 8% said they were definitely not true.