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Worrying news for Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House minority leader trying to secure the speaker's gavel but having a hard time satisfying the far right of the party: according to Politico, a plan is forming to have Steve Scalise, currently McCarthy's righthand man, step in if the Californian cannot seal the deal.

According to the website, a group of lawmakers has quietly approached" Scalise about running should McCarthy falter, according to multiple GOP members and aides.

Their message? Steve, just be ready,' according to one member currently backing McCarthy who spoke to us late last night on condition of anonymity. Scalise was uncontested in his bid for majority leader in the new Congress, the lawmaker noted, and could be a good consensus leader if things don't go well for Kevin'.