Oklahoma US Senator Jim Inhofe backs Frist to replace Lott

<br>(Washington-AP) -- Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe is among a growing list of senators who are publicly supporting Bill Frist to take Trent Lott's place. <br><br>The Tennessee senator says he'll

Thursday, December 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe is among a growing list of senators who are publicly supporting Bill Frist to take Trent Lott's place.

The Tennessee senator says he'll consider a bid to replace Lott as Senate majority leader, if there's support.

Frist has won public support from Inhofe as well as Virginia G-O-P Senators John Warner and George Allen.

Inhofe will chair the Environment and Public Works panel. Warner, a 24-year Senate veteran, will be the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Allen is a fast-rising freshman who will head the Senate G-O-P's campaign effort for the 2004 elections.

Lott has said the nation would have been better off if Strom Thurmond, then a segregationist, had won the White House in 1948.