Here is the transcript of Trent Lott's interview Monday on BET in which he expressed his across the board support for affirmative action.

Representative John Lewis (D-Ga) is ready to give Trent Lott another chance:

"Lott also said he had reached out to several lawmakers to push forward an agenda he said would help minorities, including talking with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., about setting up a task force on reconciliation and with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, about setting up an African-American summit."

"Lewis, a veteran civil rights leader, said Lott was ``sincere'' in their Monday conversation and he suggested that the Mississippi senator join him an annual civil rights tour in March through places like Selma, Ala., where police badly beaten him during the 1960s civil rights struggle."

``I'd like to come down on his side, giving him a chance,'' Lewis said. ``I'm not one of those calling for him to step down and give up his leadership post. We all make mistakes, we all make blunders. It's very much keeping with the philosophy and discipline of nonviolence to forgive and move on.''

The GOP will decide Lott's fate on January 6. The Bush Administration has said it won't resist a leadership change.