Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota is advising President-elect Trump to remain neutral in the race to elect a successor to outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Thune, along with his allies, believes it is in Trump’s best interest to allow Republican senators to make their own decision about who should lead the new Senate GOP majority. This has caused a stir among Senate insiders, with Thune’s rivals, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida, hoping for Trump’s endorsement in the leadership race. While Scott has a closer relationship with Trump, Cornyn has reminded Trump of their past accomplishments and expressed interest in working together again. Thune, who has had a rocky relationship with Trump in the past, is trying to mend fences and has advised Trump to let Senate Republicans choose their leader without outside influence. The last time a president played a major role in picking a Senate majority leader was in late 2002 with Senator Bill Frist and President George W. Bush. Bush fue una gran razón por la que fue elegido para suceder al líder de la mayoría del Senado Trent Lott (R-Miss.), quien renunció al liderazgo después de hacer comentarios controvertidos en la fiesta de cumpleaños número 100 del difunto Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.).
Frist había servido anteriormente como presidente del NRSC pero no había ascendido en los rangos de liderazgo como otros líderes del GOP lo habían hecho, y su estilo de gestión, así como su deferencia a la administración Bush, molestaron a algunos senadores del GOP.
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