The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> LOTT HANGS ON br> Fearing that his own Republican caucus would in fact rise up against him, Republican Senate leader Trent Lott made a third mea culpa on Wednesday, further distancing himself from his own comments. As word spread throughout Capitol Hill that some conservative Republicans were mulling going public with a rebuke of Lott, the Mississippi senator's office began calling TV networks and prominent print reporters on Wednesday morning to say that Lott was prepared to again apologize for remarks he made last week at a 100th birthday fête for Sen. Strom Thurmond . /p>

While Lott was apologizing, he was also fuming over reports that RNC chief Marc Racicot had agreed to meet with Rev. Al Sharpton to discuss the Lott comments. "You know damn well that Racicot is going to get hauled before the cameras with Sharpton, and even if he doesn't say a word, Sharpton's comments are going to keep this thing alive," says a Lott loyalist on Capitol Hill. "The RNC has no business getting involved in this thing. We take care of our own."

Lott's troubles aren't necessarily limited to his big mouth. Republicans and conservatives who have thus far sat out the Thurmond comments uproar continue to raise questions about Lott's ability to lead.

"We're going to be watching him like hawk," says an influential conservative activist. "If he gives the Democrats an inch on anything in the first 100 days of the Senate session, he's not going to know what hit him. He's been handed a second chance, now it appears he's been handed a third chance. That means no backroom deals with Daschle, no give on tax cuts, no give on judicial nominees. Lott cannot screw this up."

p> ABSENTEE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

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