Thune makes move on Ensign leadership spot

[babylonsister]

Thune makes move on Ensign leadership spot
By Reid Wilson
Posted: 06/17/09 03:51 PM


Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is maneuvering for the leadership opening left by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who resigned the position a day after admitting to an affair with a campaign staffer.

Thune’s office confirmed the senator has begun making phone calls to leadership and to rank-and-file senators to tell them he will run for Republican Policy Committee chairman.

Thune's ascent to the No. 4 spot in Senate Republican leadership is all but assured, as no other candidate has stepped forward to challenge him.

Sources say the only possible contender for the Policy Committee slot would have been Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who just took over as ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In the 112th Congress, Sessions has secured promises that he will be named the top Republican on the Budget Committee, essentially pulling him out of contention for the leadership post.

Ensign resigned his leadership spot Wednesday , a day after he admitted his affair with a campaign staffer.

A member of the Senate Republican leadership said that Ensign could have held on to his chairmanship of the Policy Committee but would not have risen much higher in the party, describing Ensign’s presidential ambitions as "eliminated."

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/thune-makes-move-on-ensign-leadership-spot-2009-06-17.html

[roguevalley]

1. didn't wait until the body cooled off did he

[Captain Hilts]

2. Wow! That didn't take long! nt