Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the No. 4 Democrat in the chamber, intends to support Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to succeed retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), an aide said.
“Senator Murray spoke to Senator Schumer several times over the past few days and told him that she planned to support him for leader next Congress and looks forward to continuing to be his partner in Senate Democratic leadership,” said the Murray aide, who was not authorized to discuss the matter on the record.
Murray’s backing means that Schumer, currently the No. 3 Democrat, has locked up the support of every key Senate Democratic leader for the top perch. Reid and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, revealed their intentions to support Schumer within hours of the Nevadan’s announcement.
Murray has taken on critical roles for the party in recent years, including serving as Senate Budget Committee chair and leading the conference’s electoral arm in the 2012 cycle. She’s privately discussed as someone who could lead the party in the future.
Schumer’s ascension would open up his third-ranking position, and although the Murray aide would not comment on her ambitions she would be the likely favorite for the job.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated when Murray was at the helm of the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm. It was during the 2012 cycle, but not also during the 2010 cycle. We regret the error.
A lot of folks here despise Schumer, and I get it, but here are a couple of thoughts I posted a few days ago of why I can’t think of a better choice at the moment:
Though, yes, the leader makes choices on what bills come to the floor, not since LBJ do they originate policy.
We need all the progressives … Warren, Brown, Whitehouse, etc … writing bills and active in committees shaping policy, and they don’t get to do that as leader.
Who else knows the arcane ins and outs of Senate rules, that are absolutely vital to an effective leader, better than Schumer. I don’t personally know of anyone, but it’s not likely to be a first or second term Senator, no matter how smart and involved they are in the inner workings.
Sound bites. Yes, Schumer is famous for his own that we are all familiar with, but he has moments of crafting a message. Reid wasn’t good at that. The GOP bamboozle so many voters with sound bites. Schumer is safe in his seat … if he shifts to a broader message (which he did somewhat as NSCC chairman), we may gain on the GOP in the message wars.
I do understand the misgivings and disdain for Schumer, but who else can play all the obscure Senate levers of power and we would want to let go of writing policy? I’d actually like him having to respond to and lead the Dem caucus rather than legislating. He does not get the choice to ignore them or he’ll be removed.
I have the utmost respect for Senator Murray.
But I have little respect for whomever edits TPM articles.
Seriously.
The problem in my view is that he has graduated from merely crafting policy to deciding what policy gets crafted, and how. Hello, Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Since we have no say in the matter, we have no choice but to watch and see. I would only point out that after doing exactly what Obama implored us to do in the wake of his election, namely, hold his feet to the fire, there is a loud chorus of opposition among the loyal to doing just that. Therefore, it would seem that any critique of policy that’s opposed by some in the rank-and-file will likewise be met with disdain and ridicule. Under those circumstances, Schumer has free rein.
That’s been corrected to taken since you posted. Nevertheless it’s the end of the speculation about the senator from Washington stepping up, the senator who first described herself as a “mom in tennis shoes.”
I agree on all your points as far as Schumer’s suitability for the job,
And since Reid and Durbin already have voiced their support, it’s rapidly being cemented.
And yes, this has little to do with his position on issues. This is about understanding strategy, tactics and procedure.
And as a bonus, Schumer is more telegenic than Reid, who comes across as too soft-spoken.