Aide Says Craig Is Likely To Quit Senate

WaSHINGTON — Senator Craig has all but dropped any notion of trying to complete his term, and is focused on helping Idaho send a new senator to Washington within a few weeks, his top spokesman said yesterday.

"The most likely scenario, by far, is that by October there will be a new senator from Idaho," Craig spokesman Dan Whiting told the associated Press.

The only circumstances in which Mr. Craig might try to complete his term, Mr. Whiting said, would require a prompt overturning of his conviction for disorderly conduct in a men's room at the Minneapolis airport, as well as Senate GOP leaders' agreement to restore Mr. Craig's committee leaderships posts taken away this week.

Those scenarios are unlikely, Mr. Whiting said.

Mr. Craig, a three-term Republican, met Wednesday with Governor Otter, a Republican of Idaho, to discuss a transition in which Mr. Otter would name his Senate replacement, Mr. Whiting said.