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Politics

In another senatorial flip-flop, Craig now likely to leave

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 7, 2007

WASHINGTON - Republican senators expressed relief Thursday that embattled Sen. Larry Craig has signaled he is highly likely to surrender his seat within a few weeks rather than fight to complete his term.

Craig's departure, perhaps as early as Oct. 1, would enable Republicans to sidestep one of the several ethics dilemmas they face and avoid the embarrassment of dealing with a colleague who had been stripped of his committee leadership posts and urged to resign by party leaders. It also would negate the need for a Senate ethics committee investigation, which GOP leaders had requested.

Idaho's senior Republican congressman, Rep. Mike Simpson, called on Craig Thursday to make it clear he will leave his seat by Sept. 30.

"This can't go on for very long," Simpson said.

And Craig spokesman Dan Whiting said the senator was focused on trying to clear his name and to help Idaho prepare for a replacement.

"The most likely scenario, by far, is that by October there will be a new senator from Idaho," Whiting said.

Craig, 62, pleaded guilty in August to disorderly conduct after a sting operation in a men's bathroom at the Minneapolis airport. He announced Saturday his intention to resign by Sept. 30, after the newspaper Roll Call published an account of his arrest and conviction. He later said he would try to withdraw the guilty plea and hinted that he might try to complete his term, which ends in early 2009.

The only circumstances in which Craig might try to complete his term, Whiting said Thursday, would require a prompt overturning of his conviction for disorderly conduct in a men's room at the Minneapolis airport, as well as Senate GOP leaders' agreement to restore the committee leaderships positions they took from him this week.

Those scenarios are unlikely, Whiting said.

Craig met Wednesday with Idaho Republican Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter to discuss a transition in which Otter would name his Senate replacement, Whiting said. Even if Craig were to complete his term, he said, the senator would not seek re-election in 2008.

[Last modified September 6, 2007, 23:05:45]