WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, dogged by persistent skepticism from hard-core conservatives and facing questions about his qualifications, abruptly withdrew Thursday from the race to replace John Boehner as speaker of the House of Representatives.McCarthy, R-Calif., who began Thursday as an embattled but clear favorite to win the House Republican caucus’ nomination for speaker, stunned colleagues with his announcement, tossing the race to elect a new [...]