Sen. Harry Reid has laid to rest any rumors that he’s retiring from Congress, announcing to dozens of staffers in the Mansfield Room in the Senate that yes — he is seeking re-election in 2016, Politico reported.
He made the announcement at an all-staff briefing late Tuesday, Politico reported. And the reaction of those in the room?
Applause, the news outlet said.
Mr. Reid, 75, also said his top political aide, Rebecca Lambe, will soon hire a campaign manager and that in the meantime, he was committing himself to the run. When asked is anything could change his mind, Mr. Reid said: “I’m running. You asked a question that has no answer. I’m going to run,” Politico reported.
The announcement comes as somewhat of a turn-around from a month ago, when Mr. Reid gave a watery reply to a question about his re-election campaign intentions. Then, he simply said that “at this stage” he planned to run.
Rumors of Mr. Reid’s last political legs have taken off in recent weeks, especially since he’s appeared in public with a white bandage over his eye and a deep purple bruise on his jaw, and a schedule that calls for additional eye surgery. He was exercising at his home in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day and his exercise band snapped and sent him crashing, he said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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