WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Some four years after being forced to resign as majority leader, Sen. Trent Lott is trying to make a comeback.

The Mississippi Republican is running for minority whip, the number two spot in the GOP leadership -- a post he once held.

"Senator Lott is running for Republican Whip," Susan Irby, Lott's spokeswoman said. "His name will be on the ballot. We are closing in on victory."

Lott is running against Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee. A GOP senator, who received a call from Lott last week, told CNN the Mississippi Republican has been quietly rounding up votes for some time.

But Alexander, too, claims to have the majority of support from his colleagues.

"On Thursday, a majority of my colleagues had committed to vote for me for whip," Alexander said in a statement released by his office. "Today, I have more commitments than I had on Thursday and I’m still working to build a consensus within our caucus."

Elections will be held later this morning.