Blunt Steps Aside as GOP House Whip

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt is giving up his place in the Republican leadership, CQPolitics reports. Blunt, who’s held the post since 2002, said today he’s weary of “asking members to do something they don’t want to do.” He endorsed his deputy, Eric Cantor, as his replacement, and denied rumors that Cantor had threatened to run against him for the post.

The 58-year-old Missourian, just elected to a seventh term, said he’d been considering leaving since Republicans lost the majority in 2006, and was confident Cantor would “do a great job.” He also defended Minority Leader John Boehner, who is seeking another term at the helm. “I don’t think the losses were a reflection on Mr. Boehner,” he said. (More Roy Blunt stories.)