GOP Whip Faces Newt's Task Magnified

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's position resembles that of predecessor Newt Gingrich in 1993, and like Gingrich, Cantor has rallied Republicans in a divisive budget battle against reigning Democrats. But continuing in Gingrich's mold may be a tall order, writes Adam Nagourney in the New York Times—while Newt led a Republican resurgence in 1994, Cantor has some extra obstacles.

The Virginia rep, and House's only Jewish Republican, faces the albatross of President Bush's unpopularity, along with declining support for the Republican ideal of small government in wake of the financial meltdown. But if anyone can spark a new era for conservatives, many think it will be the 45-year-old Cantor—now one of the most recognizable faces in his party.