WASHINGTON -- The final collapse of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's political career was not entirely unexpected on Capitol Hill, but it was clearly a relief yesterday to fellow Republicans, who praised Mr. DeLay for his role in building their majority, while admitting that his resignation was in the party's best interest.

Mr. DeLay's decision, which he explained to Texas constituents in a videotaped message yesterday, is a more complicated development for Democrats, who have built their strategy for taking back the House in the fall elections around the message that Republicans -- led by Mr. DeLay -- have created a "culture of corruption" in Washington.

Mr. DeLay's strong-arm tactics, legal troubles and admonishments he received from the House ethics committee as he rammed through the GOP agenda provided an easy target for Democrats. In recent months, the party and liberal groups have tried to use his connections to fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff to weaken support for scores of Republican incumbents who accepted money from Mr. DeLay's political action committees -- including U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods.

Democrats yesterday made the case that sordid relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers range beyond Mr. DeLay's office. Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the House leadership's slow progress on a lobbying reform package shows that Mr. DeLay's departure has not altered the GOP tone or goals.

"The Republican culture of putting the special interests first does not revolve around just one man," he said in a statement. "The refusal of the brand new majority leader of the House Republicans to pass comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform ... tells the American people everything they need to know about Tom DeLay's departure -- that DeLay may be gone, but nothing has changed."

But Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., predicted that the Democrats' message to voters would be a tougher sell now that Mr. DeLay is stepping down.

"Tom's not going to be the poster child anymore," said the senator, whom Democrats have criticized for sharing Mr. DeLay's interest in building GOP power on Washington's K Street, where many lobbying offices are located. "... I think what most people are looking for in a campaign is what you have accomplished for the people you represent," he said.

Mr. Santorum and other GOP leaders were clearly eager yesterday to move the party beyond Mr. DeLay's problems. House leaders stuck loosely to the talking points Mr. DeLay outlined in his video.

Mr. DeLay said the ferocity of partisan politics surrounding his election had led him to fear that he would lose his seat to his Democratic challenger, who has led in various polls.

He insisted that his decision was unrelated to the criminal probe into ties between his leadership operation and Mr. Abramoff, who pleaded guilty in January to charges that included trying to bribe lawmakers.

"I have no fear whatsoever about any investigation into me or my personal or professional activities," he said. "I refuse to allow liberal Democrats an opportunity to steal this seat with a negative, personal campaign."

The man who succeeded Mr. DeLay as majority leader, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he thought his predecessor understood that the election "was becoming a referendum on him, instead of on the ideas between the two parties.

"I think he did a very honorable thing by stepping aside," Mr. Boehner said. "I think the whole picture is a sad one. He has done a great job, and to find himself in this predicament is regretful."

But Mr. Boehner also said members are responsible for actions of their staff. Last week, Mr. DeLay's former deputy chief of staff, Tony Rudy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy as part of the Abramoff investigation. That made him the second DeLay ex-staffer to admit to corrupt activities in the leader's office. The cooperation of the two former aides is expected to lead to more indictments in the federal probe.

Mr. DeLay yesterday said he plans to give up his seat before mid-June and switch his residence to Virginia. By changing his residence, he'll be able to clear his name from the Texas 22nd district ballot and make way for another GOP contender.