Courtesy NBC/Big Dog Productions

John McCain talks about Larry Craig on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

BOISE - The political fallout of the Sen. Larry Craig story is spreading far and wide - with some of Craig's colleagues making very public declarations about his future.

Wednesday afternoon, GOP pressure on Craig continued to increase.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said he hoped an ethics panel looking in to Craig's actions could do its work quickly.

"That would be in the best interests of the Senate and the people of Idaho," he said.

Stanzel says the White House was disappointed in the Senator. Stanzel made no expression of support for Craig - neither did Senate GOP leaders on Tuesday.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain took to late night TV and expressed concern over Craig's actions.

McCain was a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Tuesday night, and commented on Craig in front of the large national audience. McCain has served with Craig in the Senate for more than a decade.

"It's disgraceful," he said. "The people of Idaho that he represents I think will... reach a pretty rapid verdict in this situation."

The presidential candidate says the story could damage his party.

"It harms our reputation with the American people, which is already badly tarnished," McCain said.

NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert says he talked to many top Republicans in Washington, and the chattering class is hoping for Craig to exit the national stage.

"They believe the Senate seat in Idaho is a safe Republican seat, George Bush carried that state by 67 % of the vote,"

Russert said on NBC Nightly News Tuesday. "Any Republican can hold on to it, except maybe Senator Craig,"

Russert's comments come on the heels of Craig's very public statement deriding the Idaho Statesman – bashing the paper for a "witch hunt" which lasted more than eight months.

But Russert's sources say if Craig decides to engage in a long, public battle with the Statesman, it could drag down Republicans nationwide.

"He'll become a poster boy the way Mark Foley became a poster boy in the 2006 election involving a Republican page scandal," he said.

Russert says the hint of hypocrisy could play a big role in public opinion across the nation – not just in Idaho.

"The notion of a conservative Republican who constantly votes against gay rights doing something contrary to that – they just don't want the 2008 election to have those kinds of overtones the way they did in 2006," he said.

MSNBC reports Senate Republican leaders were surprised by the charge and guilty plea. Those leaders pushed for the ethics review of Craig's conduct Tuesday afternoon, and are "examining other aspects of the case to see if additional action is required," Sen. Mitch McConnell and other top GOP lawmakers said in a written statement.

The ranking Republican on the ethics committee could not confirm if an ethics review has already begun, but John Coryn of Texas did call Craig a "good senator" for Idaho.

Craig served as co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in Idaho, and as his US Senate liaison. Craig resigned from both roles Monday.

"He was a supporter," Romney told CNBC's Larry Kudlow. " It's difficult enough to make sure I do everything right myself, I can't make sure all my supporters do everything properly, but he has indicated he will not be helping me in my campaign."

Some local Republicans who spoke on the record expressed support for Craig.

Idaho's junior Senator Mike Crapo talked to NewsChannel 7 Tuesday morning before Craig's news conference. He said Craig is a friend and colleague and has served Idaho well.

"I've spoken with Larry, you've read his statement - I take him at his word," Crapo said.

Idaho Republican Party Chairman Kirk Sullivan said he first heard of the story when news broke on RollCall.com Monday afternoon. He also personally talked to Craig, and says the Senator should not resign.

"Oh good Lord no, absolutely not," Sullivan said. "He can do so much for this state… he should serve out his term. I don't know if he's going to stand for reelection or not, but no – he should not resign."

KTVB political analyst Dr. Jim Weatherby says losing Craig's position on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee could hurt Idaho's political standing.

"When it comes to Federal funding for Idaho, he plays a very key role," Weatherby said. "So Idaho does have something at stake without arguing the merits of this case pro or con or this particular case or whether Senator Craig should ultimately stay in the United State Senate."