McConnell served in the senate for thirty years (1985-2015) before getting the job he holds now. The senate is all about seniority. I don’t care who Romney is or how rich he is, he won’t be handed that job for at least twenty years. Sorry, Mitt, you’re dreaming.
Bill Frist (R-TN) became majority leader during his second term at about the 8 year point and served for 4 years.
This was after the buffoonish, Trent Lott, stumbled over his tongue in his effervescent praise of Strom Thurmond and decided to leave for the money on K-Street.