Reid offering Clinton Senate Majority Leader if she doesn't run for Prez?

[wyldwolf]

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, whom most give high marks for the manner in which he has stewarded the Dems in the Senate despite the absence of a clear Democratic Party chief, has sent private signals to Senator Hillary Clinton and other stalwarts of the party that he "would like to" step down from his post in early 2009. Reid has not stated definitively that he will -- but he apparently prefers "whipping" the Party from behind and the side rather than serving as commander-in-chief on the Senate floor.

What Reid is offering Senator Hillary Clinton is his total, robust support to succeed him as Senate Majority Leader if she elects not to pursue the Democratic nomination for President.

Many are realizing that the electoral map is not something one can wave a magic wand over and reverse the views of 42% of Americans who believe that they know Hillary Clinton well and have strongly formed views of her and will not vote for her under any conditions -- according to recent polls. Reports are that Senator Clinton herself knows this and that her own enthusiasm for running actually trails that of her husband, her advisors, and her staff -- whose enthusiasm for the race is ranked in that order with Hillary the least enthusiastic.

Some Republican Senators have been privately queried -- not by Reid but by high level Republican Party funders (Northeast Republicans) who are frustrated with Bush, unsure of McCain, and considering supporting alternative candidates like Mark Warner -- what they think of Hillary Clinton serving as either Senate Democratic Leader, either in the Majority or Minority. Senators such as Senator Chuck Hagel, Arlen Specter, and Lindsay Graham have reportedly said that they would welcome Senator Clinton in such a role, albeit from the other side of the aisle.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/

However, Senator Reid is denying the report

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Reid_aides_deny_Dem_leader_Hillary_0803.html

[Drifter]

1. Best news I've heard regarding HRC in a while ...

I really do not want her to run. Whether we like it or not, she is a polarizing figure.

Right now, there are plenty of people on the right who are willing to vote for a Democrat via ABR (Anybody But Republicans). I fear that a Clinton run, will chase way to many people back via ABC (Anybody But Clinton).

Cheers
Drifter

[SaveElmer]

2. There would be advantages to a progressive from a Blue State..

In that job...

As well as Reid has done, like Daschle before him, he is constantly having to look over his shoulder as his Red State constitutents...Hillary would not have that problem...

She definitely has the intelligence and the backbone for the job!

However, I would prefer to see her in the White House...

ANd I think that 42% that say they won't vote for her, would be comparable to what any Democrat would get...with a couple of possible exceptions (Obama being the main one)

[demdiva]

3. I heard this rumor awhile ago

I'd love to see her as Senate Leader. I think it's the perfect position for her.

[AtomicKitten]

4. Excellent suggestion.

Brilliant, actually.

[cally]

5. She would be a great Senate Majority Leader

She's articulate, great at fundraising, and extremely smart. I hope this happens and Gore wins.

[Guaranteed]

6. Agreed. nt

[Cosmocat]

7. Not bad ...

But, I still think she would be a great VP choice, with the right president (Clark) ... It almost completely mitigate the decade long slander attack on her, it would lend a very strong name to the second chair, and put her money into the campaign ...

However, short of that, I also am skeptical that she can win as a presidential candidate in 2008 ... The vitrial has been SO vile, SO long ... All gearing up for it ...

[ncrainbowgrrl]

8. interesting...

I think she'd be a good Democratic leader (hopefully majority leader!)- Great for fundraising, safe blue state, and strong-willed enough to put up a good fight against anything that the rethug. party could throw at us,/or the games that they might play.

[gulliver]

9. Sounds like a good way to lose the Senate in 2010.

It is still interesting, though.