Most of his fellow Democrats are not blaming Sen. Harry Reid, who has been their majority leader since 2007, for the drubbing their party took on Tuesday and want him to stay on as minority leader,
Politico reported.
West Virginia Democratic
Sen. Joe Manchin may be an exception. He has criticized Reid's refusal to allow controversial legislation to be taken up in the Senate that the majority leader thought would hurt Democratic re-election chances.
Manchin wanted to get more legislative work done and allow lawmakers to run on their records, he told
KWIT television. He would not declare whether he backs Reid for minority leader, according to Politico.
It is unlikely, in any event, that Reid will have any competition for the job.
Top Democratic senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Chuck Schumer of New York and Washington's Patty Murray all stand by him. They do so in no small measure because of Reid's fundraising abilities through
Senate Majority PAC, according to Politico.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey says Reid has been underrated and often underappreciated.
Other Democratic senators like his pugnacious style. "Harry's a fighter. Right now we need fighters in leadership positions because it doesn't look like Republicans are going to lay down and start an era of harmony," said Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
Reid will also have the backing of
Maine independent Sen. Angus King and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to Politico.
"I am sympathetic to Harry's politics. I think Harry is a progressive. For his entire political life, he has stood for working people," Sanders said.
"Running a caucus is a very difficult process, because you have to accommodate people like Joe Manchin who have conservative views … Harry has done a good job in maintaining unity," Politico reported.
Democrats on Capitol Hill blamed Tuesday's outcome on President Barack Obama and his administration's fumbling of key domestic and foreign issues, according to Politico.
Reid, who turns 75 in December, is expected to
seek re-election in 2016.
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