5:07 pm, May 20, 2011 | Written by mrulon
Ever since Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., withdrew earlier this
week from the bipartisan “Gang of Six,” speculation has been high on who might
replace him. The so-called “Gang of Six” is an informal group of senators
working together to come up with bipartisan ideas for debt reduction.
Today, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said on MSNBC’s “Moring Joe”
that he’s been trying to recruit Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to
join. Kirk is a not member of the group.
“I talked to Rob about this yesterday, and I think he’s reticent and he needs
to be invited to this group,” Kirk said on the show, adding that since Portman
was President Bush’s budget director, he would give “gravitas” to the gang.
So will Portman join?
“No, he’s not joining the Gang of Six,” said Portman press secretary
Christine Mangi. “But I suppose it’s nice to get compliments from your
colleagues!”