The race for Senate leadership among the Dems appears to be over before it starts.
Senate Minority Whip Harry Reid (D-Nev.) stepped in immediately after Daschle’s defeat, telling Nevada reporters yesterday that he had secured at least 30 assurances of support from fellow Democrats — enough to succeed Daschle when Senate Democrats meet to reorganize Nov. 16.
Reid appeared to be put on a clear path toward victory when Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) told reporters yesterday that he would not challenge Reid, saying a contested race “would be very harmful to our party at this juncture.”
Of course, if Reid’s getting a promotion from Whip to Leader, that creates a Whip vacancy.
Reid’s bid for leader opens up a race for party whip that could expose deep ideological rifts within the party and provide a forum for reexamining Kerry’s defeat.
Squaring off will be Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (N.D.), who chairs the Democratic Policy Committee. Although both men are well-respected in the caucus, some critics have said Dorgan is haunted by the same liability as Daschle: He represents a conservative state that could hinder his dual role as a party leader.
“Why would we vote in another Dakotan to be in leadership right now to be in a solidly red state?” one Senate Democratic aide asked. “There’s still simmering bad feelings because Dorgan voted for the Medicare bill, and nobody’s forgotten. That’s two big strikes against him.”
One Democratic Senate aide, who also spoke highly of Reid, said Durbin is “sharp, savvy [and] thinks well on his feet.”
A couple of friends on the Hill told me yesterday that Durbin’s going to win this one without much trouble. This should make those who were anxious to see Durbin take Daschle’s place feel a little better.