"""""Lott's Staying....
Hotlne ^ | 1/17/06
Posted on 01/17/2006 8:02:30 AM PST by LdSentinal
Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) is expected to announce today that he'll seek for a fourth term, sources close to the senator said this morning.
On Monday, Lott spent hours on the phone informing his major donors of his decision.
He'll formally make the announcement at a noon ET news conference in Pascagoula, MS, followed by a news conference in Jackson.
Lott's beachfront home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in late August. That fueled speculation that he'd return to the state and rebuild. Lott processed the event differently: he believes his state needs him and his DC clout more than ever, and he'd do the most good by making sure his constituents get back to their normal lives.
His decision to run again -- should he not change his mind within the next two hours -- spares the GOP from defending an open Senate seat. The likely Dem nominee, Ex-AG Mike Moore, makes GOPers quite nervous.
The next big question: will Lott re-run for a leadership position when Bill Frist steps down?""""
Lott is on C-SPAN right now announcing his reelection plans. He's moved on to say he took a financial hit in Katrina, which factored into his decision. He said people in MS need to get together and work together, and his seniority could be of value to his people.