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By Humberto Sanchez and Niels Lesniewski Posted at 8:47 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2014

Manchin (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Democrats held a meeting Wednesday that they hoped would end intraparty finger-pointing after tough election losses, and discussed their new minority role in next Congress.

The healing process is beginning, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III said.

Senators heard from their colleagues who wont be coming back next Congress including Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, Manchin said.

Manchin added, We hope to do things a little differently.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who helped lead the meeting with Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said it would be the first of many discussions to come on how to take back the majority in 2016. Schumer is the chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and Stabenow is DPCC vice chairman.

One Democratic senator, speaking on background, said the group is looking to rebound from its loss, and the first step was doing a little reflecting on 2014 and discussing what the strategy will be in the minority for the coming two years.

The senator said there seemed to be a desire among the Democrats to work with Republicans to get things done.

Senators come and go and majorities come and go, but weve got to do better around here about taking care of the nations business. I think that was a big part of today, trying to figure out how to do that in this numerical environment and this political environment, the senator said.

See more here:
Senate Democrats Talk Life in Minority, Plot Comeback