COLUMBIA, S.C. - House Majority Leader Jim Merrill has a couple of words for House Republicans as a race erupts to replace House Speaker David Wilkins: Calm down.

Many in the Statehouse expect Wilkins to take up President Bush on an offer to become the U.S. ambassador to Canada and replace Paul Cellucci. Wilkins, who did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday night, has insisted it is all a rumor.

But House members have made it clear this week there is a race underway. And the race has gotten so hot that Merrill said he set up a specially called GOP caucus meeting Thursday morning to tell its 74 members to "calm down from the fever pitch that's going on right now."

Merrill also called the four Republicans who want to succeed Wilkins to a meeting Wednesday afternoon.

He won't say what happened in the meeting with House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith of Spartanburg, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bobby Harrell of Charleston, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison and House Labor and Commerce Committee Chairman Harry Cato.

But he wants the four of them to stay away from the caucus meeting.

Merrill says he wants to hear what members have to say about a potential race.

As for Smith, Harrell, Harrison and Cato, "I'd prefer them not to be there," Merrill said.

"For this particular purpose, there would be an undo level of tension that's not really necessary" if they were there," Merrill said.

Candidates are ready for a race if Wilkins leaves.

"The four of us have been talking to members of the House of Representatives in case the speaker does go," Harrell said. But "as far as I know, that's not definite at all yet," he said.

The winner will need 63 votes to replace Wilkins, making it likely he will need votes from some of the House's 50 Democrats.