Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) lambasted Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) Thursday for “betraying” the conservative movement.

During a private luncheon with Republican chiefs of staff on Capitol Hill, DeLay — who has criticized McCain for years — stepped up his attacks in the wake of the senator’s reemergence as a top presidential contender. DeLay said McCain has no principles and indicated he would not endorse the senator if he won the GOP primary.

He added that a McCain triumph for the GOP nomination would destroy the Republican Party. DeLay delivered his luncheon address to Republicans Assuring Mutual Support (RAMS), a group of current and former chiefs of staff and staff directors.

McCain’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

DeLay’s barbs come as the reeling Republican Party attempts to define itself following the Democratic takeover of Congress in 2006.

DeLay is not a fan of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, either. On CNN last year, he said, “I can’t vote for somebody that’s for abortion. I never have, and I never will.”

According to attendees, DeLay’s remarks on McCain were made during the question-and-answer period following DeLay’s speech about his new organization, the Coalition for a Conservative Majority. DeLay also made the case of how Republicans can be successful as the minority party.

DeLay did not hold back in his critique of McCain, accusing him of only standing for issues that attract media coverage. DeLay’s spokeswoman declined to comment.

This is the second time this month DeLay has taken shots at McCain. On Jan. 9, he sought to downplay McCain’s New Hampshire primary victory, calling it a “blip.”

“There’s nothing redeeming about John McCain,” DeLay told Fox News. “He appealed once again to independents…He’s not going to go much further than New Hampshire.”

On MSNBC, DeLay predicted McCain will not fare well in the South because he is “a moderate.”

McCain, however, is leading in some polls in South Carolina.

Some conservatives have long mistrusted McCain, citing his work on campaign finance reform, global warming and immigration as well his opposition to President Bush’s 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

Yet McCain voted against the 2003 Medicare drug bill, a measure that many in the conservative movement rallied against. As majority leader, DeLay vigorously urged his colleagues to back the legislation, which narrowly passed Congress.

McCain, a former House member, has jousted with House Republicans over the last several years.

Several years ago, McCain and then House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) engaged in public spat, with Hastert joking that he didn’t know McCain was a Republican. McCain fired back by suggesting Hastert was not fiscally responsible.

McCain does enjoy support in the lower chamber, attracting the backing of 20 House Republicans.
Meanwhile, another prominent former member of Congress has also said he will not back McCain for president.

“I served 12 years with him, six years...as one of the leaders of the Senate,” former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) told radio host Mark Levin on Jan. 10. “John McCain was not only against us, but leading the charge on the other side.”

He added,  “There’s nothing worse than having a Democratic Congress and a Republican president who would act like a Democrat in matters that are important to conservatives.”

DeLay has not formally endorsed a candidate, but has said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) is one of his “personal favorites.”

DeLay is still battling a 2005 indictment brought by a Texas grand jury.