O'Keefe has a card to play as well
Earlier this year when NASA's buget was under attack he threatened to cancel all congressional earmarks, which came out to be approximately equal to the budget cuts Congress wanted then. I don't doubt he'll do that again.
As for Delay, I think he's a space geek at heart (amoung other less noble things!). I'm not sure he's the guy I want leading the charge, as controversial a figure as he is, but it doesn't hurt to have his powerful support otherwise.