Incoming Senate Republican Whip Trent Lott has chosen Senator John Thune of South Dakota as his chief deputy whip.

Lott, a Mississippi Republican, today announced the senators who will make up the Senate Republican Whip organization for the 110th Congress.

Lott says that Thune in his first term has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills.

Lott says he wants to put Thune's clout to work in developing the whip strategy to get the votes for the party's priorities.

The other deputy whips serving regions of the country are: Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Senator David Vitter of Louisiana.