Sen. John Thune, McConnell's No. 2, teases bid for Senate GOP leader

Washington — Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, teased a widely anticipated bid for Senate GOP leader in a pair of interviews on Monday, hinting at an upcoming bid to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell. 

"I hope to be," Thune said in an interview with South Dakota's KELOLAND News, when asked whether he wants to become the next leader. "I'm going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues. They're the voters. They're the ones who will ultimately make the decision."

McConnell, the current leader, announced last week that he would step down from his post after the November elections.