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GOP Senators Tap Alexander For No. 3 Post

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Dec 6, 2007 9:50 am US/Central

GOP Senators Tap Alexander For No. 3 Post

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Senate Republicans chose Lamar Alexander of Tennessee to be their third-ranking leader Thursday, turning aside a bid by Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Alexander, a former governor and presidential candidate, was elected chairman of the Republican Conference in secret balloting at a closed meeting in the Capitol. He succeeds Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, who was unopposed in ascending to the second-highest party post, Republican whip.

Kyl replaces Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott, who is resigning from the Senate.

Alexander was elected to the Senate in 2002 after two terms as Tennessee governor and a stint as U.S. secretary of education. Burr was elected in 2004, after 10 years in the House.

Burr is considered more conservative than Alexander, who prides himself on being a consensus-seeker on various issues.

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell remains the Senate Republican leader.

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