HARRISBURG -- Over the past two years, state Rep. Mike Turzai raised more than $1 million to help elect fellow Republicans to the state House.

Now the legislator from Bradford Woods, who has led the House Republican Campaign Committee, is hoping to cash in on that work.

He's running for the No. 2 post in the House GOP caucus, called party whip.

Webster's New World College Dictionary defines a whip as "an officer of a political party, as in Congress or Parliament, who maintains discipline and enforces attendance."

If elected Nov. 18, he'll try to line up as many GOP members as possible to vote the party line -- usually fiscal and social conservatism -- on various issues. The 2009-10 General Assembly session, which starts in January, will have 99 Republicans in the House, two fewer than in 2007-08, so, as the minority party, they'll have more clout if they vote together rather than splintered.

The current House GOP whip is Rep. David Argall of Schuylkill, but he's believed to be running for the state Senate seat left vacant by the recent death of Republican Sen. James Rhoades.

Rep. Sam Smith of Punxsutawney wants to again hold the No. 1 GOP post, House minority leader. Republicans and Democrats try to find a geographic balance to their leadership jobs. Mr. Smith is from the northwest-central part of the state.

Another powerful job, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, is likely to remain with Rep. Mario Civera of Delaware County, and Mr. Turzai is from the southwest.

One unknown at this point, however, is whether Rep. John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, who was House speaker from 2003 to 2006, will try to get back into leadership. That could throw off the geographical balance.

If Mr. Turzai wins the job, he'll be the second whip from the North Hills area of Pittsburgh. Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, is Senate whip. Mr. Turzai was first elected to the House in July 2001, in a special election to replace Ms. Orie after she was elected to the Senate.

He also has been chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee for the last two years, holding dozens of hearings around the state on subjects such as health care, energy costs, welfare reform and other state budgetary items.

Mr. Turzai said last week he thinks he did a good job as GOP Campaign Committee chairman, even though the party suffered a net loss of two seats in the Nov. 4 elections. Some Republicans are relieved they didn't lose more seats, giving the strong showing in Pennsylvania by President-elect Barack Obama, a Democrat, who carried Pennsylvania by 600,000 votes, Mr. Turzai said.

Most of the seats that Republican House candidates lost were in southeastern Pennsylvania, where Mr. Obama did especially well.

Mr. Turzai said he's proud of helping Republican candidates to oust three Democratic incumbents, in Beaver, Elk and Bucks counties, as well as winning the seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Tangretti, D-Westmoreland.