Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who announced Friday he is not running for re-election in 2016, has endorsed Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York to replace him as Democratic leader and declared Friday that Mr. Schumer will indeed replace him in a little less than two years.
Speaking on KNPR radio Friday, Mr. Reid described Mr. Schumer as a “brilliant man” and said that “he’s been a tremendous asset to me.”
He also flat out declared that Mr. Schumer will be the next Democratic leader. Another possible replacement is the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois.
“He will be elected to replace me in 22 months,” Mr. Reid said of Mr. Schumer. “I think one reason that will happen is ’cause I want him to be my replacement.
“I’ve never been a shrinking violet,” Mr. Reid said. “I think it’s very important that we have continuity in our leadership and I’ve done everything I could to avoid a fight for leadership and during all the time I’ve been in the Senate, that’s happened.
“I can remember, when I was a young senator, knock-down, drag-out battles,” he continued. “During my tenure, I’ve had one election and I had four senators vote against me, so I feel very comfortable with the continuity of leadership that’s going to occur with Schumer.”
Mr. Reid had earlier told The Washington Post of his choice to have Mr. Schumer replace him and said the liberal wing of the party should have faith in Mr. Schumer.
In the wake of Mr. Reid’s announcement, the liberal group MoveOn.org criticized Mr. Schumer Friday for his support of an Iran sanctions bill. A separate group, Democracy for America, lobbied for Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to throw her hat in the ring in the new leadership contest if she doesn’t run for president.
Ms. Warren, who was awarded a new leadership position in the party apparatus after the 2014 midterms, will not join the race to be the next Democratic leader, according to her office. She has also repeatedly said she is not running for president.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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