MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Idaho Sen. Larry Craig lost a court bid to withdraw his guilty plea stemming from an airport men's room sex sting, and his state's governor swiftly announced he had chosen a replacement in the event of a resignation.

Craig had no immediate public response to the ruling by Hennepin County Judge Charles Porter in Minnesota.

But a pre-emptive announcement from Idaho, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter seemed an unmistakeable signal that home-state Republicans want Craig to surrender the seat he has held for 17 years.