Clyburn says he's exceeded expectations, deserves new whip job

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Sunday that he's proven he has the chops for the job of minority whip in the next Congress.

Clyburn said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that he has exceeded "every measurement that has been used to determine success in this position," and then some.

He said he has received positive feedback from talking to members. "They say I was a very effective spokesman for our party," he said.

Clyburn faces a challenge from the current majority leader, Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Friday that she would run for majority leader. "I am perfectly satisfied with Speaker Pelosi's leadership," Clyburn said.

But the minority whip race might also divide the caucus, with a handful of Democrats coming out over the weekend to back Hoyer.

"I suspect that it will get resolved in such as way that our caucus will be very satisfied with the leadership going forward," Clyburn said.

Outgoing Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that it would be a "very difficult" decision for the caucus as "both gentlemen bring an enormous amount to the job."

"We're going to look for a way that both of those members can stay in the Democratic leadership," Van Hollen said.

Clyburn said his record proves he can't be pinpointed as a liberal or conservative on the political spectrum. "The fact of the matter is I campaigned at the request of more Blue Dogs in their districts than I did in what you'd call progressive districts," he said.

He said some people classifying his ideology "are making assumptions because of the way I look."