UPDATE 2-US House panel backs Waxman as energy chairman

(Updates with recast lead, more reaction, background)

By Thomas Ferraro and Deborah Zabarenko

WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - A champion in the fight against global warming narrowly beat a defender of the U.S. auto industry on Wednesday in a preliminary battle to head the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.

On a secret-ballot vote of 25-22, the House Democratic Steering Committee recommended that Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman of California head the energy panel in the new 111th Congress set to convene on Jan. 6.

It remained unclear, however, if the 255-member House Democratic conference on Thursday would accept this recommendation or stick with Democratic Rep. John Dingell of Michigan as chairman.

"Too close to call," said a Democratic leadership aide.

"There's going to be blood on the floor," another aide said, predicting a contentious closed-door voting session.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has remained publicly neutral, but is seen as being close to Waxman, a fellow California liberal.

The Energy and Commerce Committee has broad jurisdiction over a host of matters -- from consumer protection and regulation of energy resources to global warming, conservation, health and auto emissions.

The battle for the chairmanship has been billed as a clash of the veteran titans: the congressman from Motown versus the congressman from Beverly Hills.

Dingell, 82, has fought for decades for breaks for the Big Three automakers, which are now seeking emergency financial relief from Congress.

Waxman, 69, has long battled for clean air and water legislation and to curb climate change, one of President-elect Barack Obama's top goals.

Nearly two decades ago, after years over sparring on Capitol Hill over clean air, Dingell and Waxman helped produce the 1990 Clean Air Act.

Fossil-fueled vehicles, like those made in Dingell's district which includes Detroit, are key sources of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.

"We'll see tomorrow," Waxman told reporters when asked if he expected to win the chairmanship as he left a closed meeting of the steering committee. "I made my case."

Dingell, who is the longest-serving member of the House and was first elected to the chamber in 1955, declined comment as he left.  Continued...