Politico: Harry Reid looks to stick around

[Patricia M. McBride]

We can hope and pray that Harry Reid's worst fears come true and his party loses the majority in the senate! 

 

By JOHN BRESNAHAN and MANU RAJU | 2/16/12 11:41 PM EST

Eight months out from the November elections, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is showing signs that he will stick around as Democratic leader no matter what happens this fall.

Reid faces the prospect of presiding over the loss of a Democratic majority, from the 20-seat advantage he enjoyed just three years ago. Such a shellacking could be enough to knock any leader from his perch — or at least persuade a leader like Reid to step aside.

But conversations with more than 25 Democratic senators and Reid allies show that the majority leader is moving to strengthen his hold over the caucus — and Reid waved off questions about whether he’d give up a slot as the top Democrat in the Senate — even in the minority.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Reid told POLITICO when asked if he’d stay on as leader even if Democrats lose the majority. “I still have five years left in my term.”

Reid, 72, remains unchallenged within the Senate Democratic Caucus. Reid has the final say on all aspects of his party’s floor strategy, messaging operation and political positioning. He has forged a close relationship with President Barack Obama, and the departure of Bill Daley from the West Wing only strengthens Reid’s ties to the White House. He’s privately meeting with senators from both parties to build personal relationships with his colleagues, and allies say the decision on Reid’s future — even if Democrats lose their majority — will be up to him.

Reid also stepped up his own fundraising efforts. He’s raised $2.5 million for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, with a big chunk of that total — nearly $450,000 — coming from his powerful Nevada fundraising network, according to his aides. Reid has headlined several events for challengers and incumbents, and he has begun hosting a breakfast fundraiser each month for a different challenger that nets roughly $40,000 per event.

“He has a power which no one on the outside understands and which he makes no effort to explain,” Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said of Reid. “He has the ability to make our caucus work, to the extent that it can. … People like him, he’s good to people. I can’t explain it, but yes, he will be leader.”

Reid has also benefited from the ascension within Democratic ranks of New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, considered by many to be Reid’s heir apparent. Reid and Schumer are close personally and very loyal to one another and the Nevada Democrat consults with Schumer on all major issues. Reid has handed off much of the responsibility to Schumer on getting out the day-to-day Democratic message.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73009.html#ixzz1meG2TqGa