Rep. Eric Cantor (R.-Va.)
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt has officially stepped down from his post clearing the way for Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor to pursue the position.
Cantor was elected to Congress in 2000 and skyrockted to a well-respected place in the party. He was, for a short time, rumored to be a potential vice presidential pick for John McCain. As Finance Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Cantor proved himself to be a tenacious fundraiser and message man for the GOP.
Cantor has a conservative voting record. In the 109th Congress he voted for spending limits, drilling in ANWR, to limit interstate abortion, prohibit same-sex marriage and to build a border fence.
He did, however, support the disastrous Medicare prescription drug bill in 2005.