Thune Steps into Spotlight

A showdown in the Senate over gun control could shine the spotlight on a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012. The Senate votes on Wednesday on an amendment by South Dakota Senator John Thune that would allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines—an amendment that Chuck Schumer has acknowledged Democrats are unlikely to block. Chris Cillizza at The Fix notes that Thune is quietly well-positioned to run for president in 2012. He is “one of the top four members of Republican leadership in the Senate”; faces no serious opposition for reelection in 2010; has proven to be a strong fundraiser, with more than $5 million on hand; and has a talented staff surrounding him.