Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo is "all but official" for the top Republican spot on the Senate Banking Committee next year, Politico reports today; and reporter Patrick Reis writes that Crapo will "face a tall order: Cutting deals with with Democrats over housing and financial regulation that have eluded the panel in recent years." The full Politico story, headlined "Ascending Mike Crapo seeks compromise on Senate Banking panel," is online here. It reports that Crapo says he believes the committee is on the verge of a more cooperative era, and that there is more to agree on than meets the eye.