The dike is starting to

The dike is starting to crack. Don Nickles said this morning that “There are several outstanding Senators who are more than capable of effective leadership and I hope we can have an opportunity to choose.” An aide to Trent Lott, who has feuded with Nickles for some time, said that he “believes Nickles is exploiting the controversy for his own political gain.” The Washington Post reports that if five Republican Senators sign a letter requesting a meeting of the Republican Conference to vote on the Senate leadership, such a meeting would be held on January 8.