Democrats bloodless succession is getting a little bloodier
Here's something you might have missed while following every jot and tittle of the Indiana religious freedom story: Two of the top Democrats in the Senate are in the midst of a veryunusual public spat over whether they had a deal (or not) when it came to the succession battles set off by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) retirement last week.
This, from Politico:
A feud between Sens. Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer escalated further on Tuesday, with spokesmen for the two Democratic leaders offering sharply different on-the-record accounts of whether the two men reached a power-sharing deal.
Durbins office insists Schumer agreed last week to support him as the partys whip when current Minority Leader Harry Reid retires at the end of 2016.
But Schumers office is denying any such deal was struck.
The on-the-record quotes are even better/worse.
"The two senators agreed to support each other Schumer for leader, Durbin for whip," Durbin spokesman Ben Marter told The Post. "They shook hands. That was the interaction."
Or not.
"That never happened, and they know it," responded Schumer spokesman Matt House.
Pretty fascinating, right? Democrats spent the end of last week and this weekend crowing about the bloodless succession of Reid: Schumer quickly wrapped up the top spot with the backing of Durbin. That, they argued, stood in direct contrast to Republicans especially in the House who couldn't seem to unite behind anyone up to and including Speaker John Boehner. Democrats were united, Republicans were divided. Done and done.
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Democrats bloodless succession is getting a little bloodier