DeLay's temporary replacement: Roy Blunt

House Speaker Dennis Hastert has just announced that Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, the current Republican majority whip in the House, will serve as temporary House majority leader in the absence of Tom DeLay. Blunt said Republicans in the House believe that DeLay has been made a target of criminal charges "largely because of his effectiveness as a leader," and that they're confident that DeLay will return to his leadership role soon.