Lotsa Lott..Nickles dumps on him
Looks like Oklahoma senator Don Nickles the #2 Freeper in the senate has started to circle like a shark smelling blood in the water, from an AP story out of the bay area here's the inimitable Don Nickles:

Leading Senate Republican calls for new elections for Lott's leadership job as majority leader

WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer Sunday, December 15, 2002
(12-15) 06:39 PST WASHINGTON (AP)

The Senate's No. 2 Republican leader called Sunday for a new election for the majority leader's job that Sen. Trent Lott is set to hold in the new Congress.

Sen. Don Nickles, Lott's deputy for six years as the GOP whip, urged other Republican senators to consider picking a new leader because of the controversy about Lott's comments at a birthday party for South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond.

Nickles, who had kept silent on Lott's remarks that conveyed nostalgia for the policies of racial segregation, said he accepts Lott's multiple apologies over the last week.

"I am concerned that Senator Lott has been weakened to the point that may jeopardize his ability to enact our agenda and speak to all Americans," Nickles told ABC's "This Week." "There are several outstanding senators who are more than capable of effective leadership, and I hope we have an opportunity to choose."

He added: "Can he be effective? Can he campaign in places like Chicago? I don't want to squander our ability to get things done. We only have a short window this year."

I really think if Lott is not reelected as Majority Leader, he'll leave the senate and it's going to get very interesting quickly. I wonder if there's a line in Vegas on Chaffee leaving the Republicans to join Jeffords?