Blunt Expected to Step Down as Whip
- By Jennifer Bendery
- Roll Call Staff
- Nov. 6, 2008, 9:32 a.m.
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) has scheduled a sit-down with reporters for Thursday morning where he is expected to announce that he will not run to retain his No. 2 leadership post.
The alert from Blunt’s office, which directs press to meet in his office at 11 a.m., says that he wants to “discuss his future plans.” Blunt is expected to step aside to make way for his longtime apprentice, Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
At this point, Cantor appears to be the sole candidate for the post. Blunt’s office confirmed that the two lawmakers spoke on the phone Wednesday morning, but declined to discuss the nature of the conversation.
Blunt’s departure marks the second casualty in the leadership ranks from the November elections. Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) also is stepping down. Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) is expected to survive.
