Jim Jordan is mining for votes among his U.S. House colleagues, who he wants to lead as the next speaker of the House.

To say he faces a major fight is to be guilty of gross understatement. Republicans nominated him to run for the speakership, but he got only 130-something votes. He needs 217 votes among House members to take the gavel. Where does he get them?

Jordan is a MAGA minion. He is a no-compromise hardliner. Democrats signing up? Hah! Establishment Republicans? Even more laughter!

The House Republican caucus is deeply divided. We have the MAGA clowns and those who oppose them. If Jordan were to broker a deal with Democrats, that would seem to doom any chance he has to win all the far-right votes he would need to take the gavel.

What’s more, and this is important, the very idea that a man who stood with Donald J. Trump on 1/6 and who has consistently cast aspersions on the results of the 2020 presidential election could then ascend to the third spot in presidential succession simply boggles my noggin.

Does Jim Jordan face a steep hill on his way to the speakership?

You bet he does … and he should.