While devastating to Democrats, the defeat of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle could catapult North Dakota's senior senator into a higher leadership position.

Sen. Byron Dorgan is considered a top candidate for Senate minority whip, the party's second-ranking position in the Senate.

The title is now held by Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who is the favorite to succeed Daschle after the South Dakota Democrat's narrow loss Tuesday to former Rep. John Thune.

In a phone interview Wednesday evening from Washington, D.C., Dorgan said he hasn't made a decision about any leadership issues.

"It's too early to talk about that," he said. "I'm obviously making some calls to my Senate colleagues to see what we should do here.

The nonpartisan weekly newspaper The Hill has speculated since June that Dorgan could wind up in a showdown with Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin for the whip position.

The National Journal also cited unidentified Democratic sources Tuesday as saying they expect a Dorgan-Durbin contest.

"While both members are popular with other Democratic senators, Dorgan could find himself hamstrung because of his role in the current leadership team that oversaw a four-seat net loss in Tuesday's election," the Journal reported. Daschle named Dorgan chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee in 1998. Prior to that, Dorgan served as assistant Democratic floor leader for two years.

Dorgan and Durbin share similar histories in Congress.

Durbin, 59, won his Senate seat in 1996 after serving seven terms in the House. Dorgan, 62, won his third Senate term Tuesday and previously served six terms in the House. Both are members of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

Both men also have raised big money for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, earning them points with party colleagues. Dorgan's political action committee has contributed $170,000 in the past six years, while Durbin's committee has contributed $180,000, according to campaign finance disclosures. The minority whip's main responsibilities are to track votes on important legislation and persuade members to support the party's bills.

A North Dakotan has never held the position. Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota served as Democratic whip from 1961 to 1965.

Vern Thompson, executive director for North Dakota's Democratic-NPL Party, said he expects Dorgan to be in the mix of any leadership change.

"I think Sen. Dorgan would be a great Senate floor leader or assistant leader," Thompson said. "He is a true leader in the U.S. Senate for not only the Democratic caucus, but for people across the country, and he's highly capable of playing a leadership role with the departure of Sen. Daschle."

Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker did not return a phone message Tuesday.

Senate Democrats were "very disappointed" by the loss of their leader, Dorgan said, describing Daschle as a longtime personal friend.

Dorgan blasted Republicans for what he called "one of the most negative campaigns I've ever seen." "This campaign was run right out of the basement of the White House by Karl Rove," Dorgan said, referring to President Bush's top political adviser. "It made Tom the biggest target in America, and I think South Dakota has lost someone very important."

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