Blunt out as House minority whip

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri officially announced Thursday his decision not to serve in that capacity in the next Congress.

Blunt served in the second-highest House GOP leadership position for one term; however, after a second election in which the GOP lost seats in the House, he decided to step aside, The Hill reported.

Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., has expressed interest in the position.

Blunt and Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida seem to be catching the fallout from the GOP's fall, Roll Call reported, while Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio was expected to escape unscathed.

Blunt said he thought Cantor has the qualities to be the next whip, such as optimism and knowing "you can't hold a grudge," Roll Call said.

"Eric Cantor has done a great job as Chief Deputy Whip," Blunt said. "He shows tremendous capacity ... to ask people to do things they don't want to do."