But his allies say his seniority as dean of the New York delegation, his status as the House's third - longest serving member, and his regular
presence on cable news, give him prominence no successor could match.
Imagine, just a few months before the serious campaigning begins for the run to the White House they are not only confronted with almost daily polls that show one Sarah Palin leading all comers to be their standard bearer next time around, but are bombarded with her constant
presence on magazine covers, TV shows,
cable news, being Twittered and seeing her book outsell their hero George W's.