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Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002

Republican loyalists scrambled to finalize the leadership transfer in the coming days, to put an end to the speculation of who might replace Lott.

Sen. Rick Santorum, after considering a challenge to Frist, endorsed him late Friday.

"I support Senator Bill Frist's candidacy for Republican leader," Santorum, R-Pa., said in a statement.

"As Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, I am calling for a special election to be held on Monday, Dec. 23, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. EST for the position of Senate majority leader. It is important that we move forward with the election process to ensure that the Republican Party can continue to move forward with an agenda that will build a more united and whole country."

Lott decided he had lost the support of his party after Dec. 5 comments that seemingly endorsed retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign. Lott released a statement Friday morning.

"In the interest of pursuing the best possible agenda for the future of our country, I will not seek to remain as majority leader of the United States Senate for the 108th Congress, effective Jan. 6, 2003," the statement said. "To all those who offered me their friendship, support and prayers, I will be eternally grateful. I will continue to serve the people of Mississippi in the United States Senate."

Bush's 'Valued Friend'

President Bush, whose advisers had not so subtlety pushed for Frist's replacement of Lott, immediately released a statement thanking Lott for acting in the interest of the party and the nation.

"I respect the very difficult decision Trent made on behalf of the American people," Bush said in a statement. "As majority and minority leader of the Senate, Trent Lott improved education for the American people; he led the way in securing tax relief; he strengthened our national security; and he stood for a bold and effective foreign policy. Trent is a valued friend, and a man I respect.

"I am pleased he will continue to serve our nation in the Senate and I look forward to working with him on our agenda to make America safer, stronger, and better."

Frist late Thursday released a statement that said he would serve as majority leader if asked. That public move for one of the top political jobs in the country sealed Lott's fate, GOP insiders said.

"We knew Trent couldn't stay, but Bill's statement Thursday sealed the deal," one strategist said, adding that Frist's ascension was inevitable.

"We know how the play ends, now it's just a question of how it progresses before the finale," the strategist said. "Trent can make it harder for Bill, but in the end, he'll get it."

Some conservatives, however, were not thrilled and had hoped to see a competition for majority leader.

Frist is in his second term as senator and as the body's only physician. He has been a high-profile authority on such complex health issues as the debate over use of stem cells, prescription drug coverage for Medicare and even the anthrax attacks on the Capitol last year.

Democrats Crank Up the Attack Machine

The same Democrat attack machine that had so successfully kept the spotlight on Lott for two weeks immediately launched an orchestrated assault on Frist.

Lott, who has served as Republican leader since 1996, took widespread criticism from most political circles, including Bush, after he proudly noted that Mississippi had voted for Thurmond in 1948.

"I want to say this about my state: when Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him," Lott said. "We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either."

After further details emerged about Lott's record on race, which included votes against major civil rights bills and previous statements endorsing Thurmond, his support evaporated. Democrats with similar or worse records on race – such as former Senate Democrat leader Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a former Ku Klux Klansman, and Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., who as governor had flown the Confederate flag, a no-no for any Republican – escaped the frenzied media and bipartisan onslaught that ensued.

President Bush was informed of Lott's decision at the end of a meeting in the White House situation room, about 11 a.m., with the National Security Council, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. Chief of Staff Andrew Card told Bush after being informed himself by one of his staff.

Bush then called Lott, conveying the sentiments later expressed in the official reaction. Fleischer said it was a "warm conversation, a good conversation. The two spoke as friends."

A slew of senators have thrown their support behind Frist, including Kit Bond, R-Mo.; John Warner, R-Va.; George Allen, R-Va.; Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.; and a member of the Republican leadership in the Senate, Don Nickles, R-Okla., who had been considered a candidate. And throughout Friday morning additional senators, without dissent, began endorsing Frist.

Lott loyalist and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky had also considered a run, but GOP sources said he has decided not to oppose Frist. Earlier Friday, only Conference Chairman Santorum remained a possible challenger when Republicans choose the new leader Jan. 6. But several sources thought then that such a challenge would not materialize.

"I'd be surprised if Rick did that," said one insider. "He knows that Bill is the best choice. [Frist] has got the temperament and the good relations with the White House to be an excellent leader."

There had been speculation that Lott might leave the Senate if he stepped aside as leader, which could threaten the GOP majority, but his statement made clear he would remain at least through next November.

Copyright 2002 by United Press International.

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