Tennessee senator challenges Lott

| Thursday, December 19, 2002

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist stepped forward Thursday as a potential replacement for Senate Republican leader Trent Lott, delivering a fresh blow to the Mississippian's already precarious hold on his post.


Underlining the gravity of Lott's situation, Virginia's two GOP senators, John Warner and George Allen, quickly became the first to publicly announce their support for Frist. Warner, a 24-year Senate veteran, will be the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, while Allen is a freshman who will head the Senate GOP's campaign effort for the 2004 elections.


Warner said that Frist, a close ally of President Bush, "will definitely seek the nomination of our caucus" to challenge Lott. Allen agreed and said he believed Frist has the support of about 10 GOP senators, including James Inhofe of Oklahoma, James Talent of Missouri and Mike Enzi of Wyoming.


"It may be unfair to Trent," Allen said in an interview. "It may be torturous for him. We have to move forward in a very positive way for our agenda, principles and issues."


Frist said several senators had approached him Thursday and asked him to seek the job. He said he agreed to let them gauge support from all 51 GOP senators who will serve in the Congress that convenes next month.


"I indicated to them that if it is clear that a majority of the Republican caucus believes a change in leadership would benefit the institution of the United States Senate, I will likely step forward for that role," he said.


Lott, 61, has said he has enough supporto retain his job and has vowed to fight for it. The Mississippian has been under fire since Dec. 5, when he expressed regret that segregationist presidential candidate Strom Thurmond was defeated in 1948. He has apologized several times for the remark.