National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (below) is still considered the frontrunner in the Whip race.
The contest is expected to heat up this summer and remain active through Election Day and beyond. The voting will be restricted to Republicans who will take office in January 2013 and will include those elected this year. Sen. John Thune (S.D.), who succeeded Alexander as Conference chairman, has not ruled out joining the Whip race. But Cornyn is projected to remain the frontrunner, barring an unforeseen change in the dynamics of the race.
Cornyn took the helm of the NRSC following the disastrous 2008 cycle — a moment when the job had few takers and 2010 was predicted to deliver Republicans another shellacking. But 2010 turned out to be a wave election for Republicans, with Cornyn earning plaudits for his management of the NRSC. If Republicans capture the four seats needed to win the Senate majority, Cornyn is thought to be a lock for Whip.
Even if the GOP comes up short, Cornyn could still be an overwhelming favorite. Republican operatives say the view in the Conference is that Cornyn has worked extremely hard during his time at the NRSC and delivered tangible benefits to Members. An individual who works hard and produces results are qualities Republicans value when electing leaders — sometimes more than personal relationships.
“Cornyn has done so much for the Conference. Even if Republicans don’t win the majority, they would likely blame it on presidential head winds,” a former Senate GOP leadership aide said. “Burr has a lower profile from which to operate on.”
Still, Burr doesn’t come to the table empty-handed.
His work as Chief Deputy Whip under Kyl, while rarely a launching point into senior leadership, has prepared him for the job and given him an opportunity to interact with Members on a daily basis. The North Carolinian has been on Capitol Hill longer than Cornyn, and he has forged closer ties with several Members, particularly those with whom he served in the House.
Critics of Cornyn have described his relationships with Members as “a mile wide and an inch deep.”
“Burr is a more social Member and has more real friends,” and there is more intensity behind his relationships, a Republican lobbyist said.
If Burr does lose the Whip race, some Republicans believe he could end up as the next NRSC chairman.
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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