Schumer: Democrats Need Obama to Succeed

Many liberal Democrats have split from President Barack Obama in the wake of his decision to compromise with congressional Republicans over taxes and fiscal stimulus. But influential Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., says the fate of Democrats in Congress remains inextricably intertwined with that of Obama’s, The Hill reports.

"We Democrats in the House and Senate know we're joined at the hip with the president," Schumer tells "Good Morning America" on ABC. "He does well, we do well, and vice versa."
Schumer’s advice to Obama: “Compromise when you can, but when people are being unreasonable … draw some lines in the sand and fight."

Schumer approves of the White House effort to push the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) through the Senate. "The president is working really hard on this. He's burning up the phone lines," he said. "We do need nine or 10 Republican votes on this, and I do think we will get them."