Sen. Charles Schumer leads the message strategy for Senate Democrats and in doing so has helped frame the broader debate with Republicans on matters such as Medicare, the budget and, lately, raising the debt ceiling.
“He’s been supportive of the conversations we’ve been having to make sure that the business community is making other people aware of what the consequences would be if we don’t raise the debt ceiling,” Bennet said of Schumer.
While Schumer over the years has become a top political adviser for Reid, others in leadership, such as Durbin, are hardly inactive. Durbin, Reid’s No. 2, has been at the table in talks with the White House and House Republicans. Plus, Durbin is a founding member of the bipartisan “gang of six” — which picked up significant momentum Tuesday — and has been vocal in the steering committee sessions with business leaders, according to Hill and business community sources.
But just how successful the Democrats’ leadership dynamic proves to be might not be known until a final deal is hashed out.
“You have to define what effective is — is effective getting the Senate strategy out there or is effective Reid cutting a deal with [Minority Leader Mitch] McConnell?” one operative asked. “I would argue that that’s what Reid does best, and what Schumer does best is creating the message.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson appears at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church on M Street Northwest for a pre-rally before a march to the White House to protest what is seen as President Barack Obama's lack of action in addressing a variety of problems in black communities.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
