<p>Amid the firestorm over his remarks embracing Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign, Trent Lott may not consider himself lucky. But he is. Back in October, he abruptly advanced the date of Republican leadership elections by several weeks in a bid to squelch competition for his job. The vote re-electing Mr. Lott was held only two weeks after the November elections. Smart move.</p>