WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Rep. Vito Fossella of New York has no immediate plans to resign after his drunken-driving arrest led to admissions of a child from an extramarital affair, but he has little support from his party to remain in office.

"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind," said Fossella, a Republican, who lives in his Staten Island, N.Y., district with his wife and their three children.

"Over the coming weeks and months, I will continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused," he said.

Fossella did not receive much support from his party after his admission Thursday. A spokeswoman for the House GOP campaign committee said only that they expect the district to continue to elect conservative-minded lawmakers. A spokeswoman for the Democratic campaign committee declined to comment.

Fossella is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City, and the paternity revelation could lead to the loss of a seat at a time when the House GOP faces the possibility of election setbacks in November.

House Minority Leader John Boehner said he expected Fossella to make decisions about his future in a matter of days, not months.

"I think Mr. Fossella is going to have some decisions to make over the weekend. And I would hope that, and frankly, expect that this is a decision between he, his family, and his constituents," Boehner said.

If Fossella were to resign before July 1, the governor would have the option of calling a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. If the congressman waited until after July 1, there would be no special election.

Steven Harrison, a Democrat seeking to unseat the congressman, said in a statement that he wished the best to Fossella's family, but said Fossella should consider resignation or not running again if he cannot juggle his congressional and personal responsibilities.

Others said his political career is over whether he's ready to admit it or not.

"He's politically dead. The only thing that hasn't happened is the autopsy report hasn't been written," said Doug Muzzio, a professor of politics at Baruch College in New York. "He can say he's going to stay all he wants, but come on ..."

Fossella's private life came under scrutiny after he was arrested in the Virginia suburbs of Washington and accused of driving drunk. Police said they stopped him after he drove through a red light.

When he was pulled over, police said, he told officers that he was going to see his daughter in the area. That prompted questions about who the daughter was.

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a 3-year-old daughter," Fossella said in his statement. It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest. She is a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and worked for a time as a liaison to Congress.

Police said Fossella's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and he could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted. A court appearance on the drunken driving arrest that had been planned for next week was canceled, and he is now not expected back in court until June.

"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," Fossella said.

The disclosures were a crushing blow to the career of a lawmaker once seen as a potential candidate for mayor of New York City. He faced a surprisingly tough re-election challenge in 2006, and Democrats have been hoping to unseat him this year.

Fossella, 43, was elected to Congress in 1997 in a special election to replace Rep. Susan Molinari, who resigned. His socially conservative positions squared nicely with his largely Catholic district. He serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

His work in Congress shifted dramatically following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Hundreds of Staten Island residents died in the attacks, and Fossella became a prominent advocate for families of those killed.

As more recovery and rescue workers got sick after toiling at the ground zero site, Fossella pushed for Washington to pay for their health care - an effort that has met with short-term success, but no long-term program.