Casualty of Senate recount: Coleman’s GOP leadership plans

Norm Coleman’s desire to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee is being imperiled by the lengthy recount process that will get underway next week, reports The Hill. Senate Republicans are slated to vote on key leadership posts on Nov. 18, even though contests in Minnesota and Georgia will not yet have been decided.

According to several aides and senators, Coleman has signaled his interest in taking over as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which will spearhead the GOP’s Senate election effort in 2010. Coleman, who lost his NRSC chairmanship bid narrowly in 2004 to Sen. Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), would face off next week against Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) in the one contested Senate GOP leadership race.

With his race in flux, Coleman may ultimately bow out of the race, but his office has not yet made the senator’s intentions clear.

Leroy Coleman, a spokesman, said the senator has been approached to run for the NRSC chairmanship by a number of his colleagues.

“But right now he’s strictly focused on the recount effort,” the spokesman said, declining further comment.

Coleman’s colleagues are understandably hesitant to consider him for the post given that his electoral fate remains in limbo.

Complicating the Minnesotan’s bid is the perception that the Senate GOP would be dealt an embarrassing blow if it elects Coleman as the next NRSC chairman next week but he ultimately loses his reelection bid to Franken.

“Would that make Franken the chairman of the NRSC?” another GOP aide quipped.