Lott Leaving Leads to Leadership Scramble

As Lott resigns his position in the Senate, he also resigns his position as minority whip. The open position will rearrange some current Republican leadership spots. Among the contenders for opening positions, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison hunts for a new title.

While Hutchison is not vying for the minority whip position, she has shown interest in the post the most likely new minority whip, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, will vacate in his ascension: Republican conference chairman, which controls party message operations.

Currently, Hutchison is chair of the Policy Committee. Other senators likely to be competing for the position include Senator Lamar Alexander, who would have had almost zero chance of succeeding Lott as whip with Kyl in the running although he initially indicated he wanted the job, as well as John Thune from South Dakota and Richard Burr from North Carolina. Hutchison boasts her qualifications as staying the course, paying her dues, and diversifying the group as reasons to fill the slot.

In Lott’s absence, some wonder whether the new whip will be able to apply a bi-partisan nature to his former position in the midst of extreme partisan politics.