The Daily Background

Wow. Apparently the GOP was more worried than anybody knew about this Larry Craig scandal. The RNC almost called for him to step down (that’s pretty much unheard of), but he assuaged them by promising to step down real soon anyways:

Top Republican Party leaders have received indications that Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is preparing to resign, according to a GOP source with knowledge of the situation who spoke with CNN. The Republican National Committee was poised to take the extraordinary step of calling on Craig to step down but that planned effort was put on hold when Craig himself indicated that he’s preparing to relinquish his U.S. Senate seat.

I guess we should have known, when Ensign called for Craig’s resignation:

Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada)* just called for him to resign. I don’t think he can stay much longer.

* Ensign is, smart bloggers and blog readers will recall, the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. And when the Chair of the NRSC, who is charged with the task of reclaiming the Senate for the GOP in 2008 calls for you to resign, you seriously re-evaluate your situation (if you’re a Republican, that is). This would be like if Chuck Schumer called for a Democratic Senator’s resignation.

Except of course, it’s kind of a bigger deal with Republicans though because they hardly ever call for each other to resign, even when it’s very clear that they desperately need to (evidenced by, oh let’s say, Tom DeLay).

It’s a Friday. Will Craig follow Tony and resign this afternoon?

Update: Bizarreness from ABC:

Despite reports today quoting anonymous ‘GOP sources” that embattled Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho., will resign Friday, his aide says the Senator will return to Washington, D.C. next week to continue his work as best he can, Craig’s Idaho press secretary tells ABC News.

If that plan changes, the media will be notified, the aide said.

Err… Is it just me, or is this slightly reminiscent of Gonzales’ spokespeople telling the press that he was staying on until just hours before he resigned?

Update: Even more from Fox:

FOX News learned of the strongest effort yet to push Craig out of office. The National Republican Senatorial Committee warned Craig privately that if he does not resign, he will not receive financial support in the upcoming election and it will recruit a Republican opponent to run against him.

And the Idaho Statesman says Idaho’s Republican Governor already has a replacement picked out for Craig.

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