The LA Times’ take:

Republican strategists agreed Friday that Shadegg’s entry into the race had changed the dynamic, making the question of ethics and lobbying reform more central. “It throws it wide open,” said one Republican strategist close to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), speaking on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of the race….
The position of Blunt and Boehner as front-runners is due in part to the quirky way congressional leaders are chosen: They are elected by their peers based not on ideology or even their public image, but largely because of personal ties, calculations of self-interest and accidents of geography.
Blunt and Boehner built their power bases through vast fundraising efforts and have links to Abramoff’s associates and clients. Their ascent demonstrates how deeply DeLay’s influence has reached into and reshaped the party: He has fostered an environment in which, in order to get ahead politically, lawmakers have had to aggressively raise money, contribute to other lawmakers and cultivate ties with the lobbyist and trade associations that line Washington’s K Street corridor.
“Anybody at this level has gotten their hands dirty — some more than others,” said a Republican lobbyist who is close to both men and who did not want to be quoted discussing their ethics.