Harry Reid had a fascinating interview today on MSNBC, discussing Arlen Specter:
Some highlights:
⢠Andrea Mitchell asked about a line from Reid’s new book, in which he said that then-Republican Specter “is always there when we don’t need him.” Reid responded: “Well, I hope he’s gonna be with us when we need him. I’m comfortable that’s the case, I’m happy he’s with us. We’ve got another Senator coming soon — but everyone should understand, the difference between 58, 59, 60 Senators is just fairly illusionary, because we still have to work on a bipartisan basis with whatever we get done.”
⢠Mitchell asked about Specter’s statement on Meet The Press that he did not say he would be a loyal Democrat. Reid’s response: “Well I think Arlen will be a good vote. He’s a moderate person. I think that he’ll fit in very well with the caucus. And on procedural votes he’ll be with us all the time. If he — I think there’s just a lot for him to get used to, and kind of a lot for us to get used to, but we’re glad he’s with us.”
⢠And on the subject of Specter’s gaffe about wanting Norm Coleman to win in Minnesota: “It created a few questions with my caucus. And I went to Arlen last night, after I heard this, and said, ‘Arlen, what’s this all about?’ And he said, ‘Well, that isn’t really what I meant,’ words to that effect. So I accept that.”
Late Update: So how does Reid’s statement, “on procedural votes he’ll be with us all the time,” fit with Specter’s own statement last week that he won’t be an automatic 60th vote? Reid spokesman Jim Manley told me: “Sen. Reid never takes any vote for granted.”
