Reid lining up support in party

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

SUN AND WIRE REPORTS

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has the support of 35 Senate colleagues who would back him in a bid to become Democratic leader should Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., vacate the post to run for president, Reid spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said today.

The job would give Reid, already the No. 2 Senate Democrat, even more political influence, which would be useful in his re-election campaign in Nevada in 2004.

Although Reid already has a sizeable majority of Senate Democrats in his corner -- 35 would give him an easy win in a race for leader -- Reid continues to seek support from others, Hafen said.

Sens. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., are among the senators Reid has contacted personally, the Associated Press reported.

At least one other senator is interested in the job. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., has been privately discussing a bid, although he has not engaged in more than casual conversations, Dodd spokesman Marvin Fast said.

"I've talked to people; some people have called," Dodd said this week.

Daschle last month told Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, that he expected a majority of Democrats would support Reid and said Reid "deserves" the job.

Reid, the Democratic Whip, is Daschle's top lieutenant, and the two have described each other as friends as well as close political allies. Reid has said he would support Daschle over other Democrats if Daschle ran for president.