Opinion: Harry Reid admits Senate Democratic hopes tied to Obama

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Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who’s also in the politically dangerous job of that body’s majority leader, says he’s excited about his party’s prospects for picking up some seats in next year’s elections.

‘We are in a position to pick up a number of seats,’ Reid said in Washington today. He can almost taste the Republican filibuster-free level of 60 Democratic-controlled seats.

But the crusty Reid is also realistic and candid.

‘I think that our success is tied to (President Barack Obama‘s) success. I would love to have 60. I would be happy with 59.’

Reid made his statement before the president announced another step-up of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, an unpopular war among many Americans these days, especially the already grumbling Democratic left, despite Obama’s long-made assertion that it is the central front in the global war on terrorism. Oh, wait, in the overseas contingency operations.

Reid also reported raising a cool $2 million last quarter for his reelection campaign back home next year. ‘I feel comfortable that I will be competitive,’ he said calmly. Mark Silva has more on Reid here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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