We have it on excellent authority that state Sen. Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, a two-term ally of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, is in the running to become the next state Senate majority leader.

The position is an open one, given the departure of Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, who chose not to run for re-election this year.

We’re told that Miller will be releasing the identities of his top supporters in the chamber within a matter of days, which should tell us whether he should be considered the immediate frontrunner for the post.

Word came to us only a few hours after we posted news that a "Draft Josh McKoon for Senate majority leader" page had been established on Facebook.

We placed a call to McKoon this afternoon. The Columbus Republican said he was flattered by the attention, but said it was “extremely premature” to discuss his interest in the No. 3 position in the chamber. McKoon, who faces a Democratic opponent, said he’ll be concentrating on his state Senate race, and the general Republican ticket, through the November election.