The next Republican Leader in the Senate

Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader, will be retiring in 2006 in accordance with his initial promist of term-limiting (and more importantly to be able to run for President), leaving the leadership of the GOP caucus up in the air. CQ Today's Midday Update (free email service) notes this interesting development:

The Greensboro (N.C.) NEWS-RECORD reports that the selection of Sen. Elizabeth Dole to head the National Republican Senatorial Committee "is viewed in some quarters as a dress rehearsal for becoming the party's Senate floor leader. Dole, however, dismisses such conjecture. 'I did it because I felt it would be good for the state, and, you know, there are just times when something opens up, and step by step you get more involved,' said Dole, 68."

[Original story here]

It will be interesting to see if the Republicans would be willing to select Dole as their party leader in Senate. I don't think it's going to happen, but it will be fun to watch, nonetheless.