Merkley: "No interest" in heading up DSCC
Kari Chisholm
With 23 seats in the U.S. Senate to defend in 2012 (and only nine seats up for the GOP), the 2012 election cycle looks to be a nightmare for Democrats in the U.S. Senate.
Meanwhile, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) - is up for re-election himself, and thus isn't interested in keeping the job. Politico reports that the Democratic leadership is casting about for replacement options. Among those that Politico asked? Our very own Senator Jeff Merkley. They got a terse response:
What about Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley? A spokesman says Merkley has “no interest” in being DSCC chairman.
Merkley, of course, headed up the campaign operation for Oregon's House Democrats when they took power after fourteen years of GOP control.
Others queried by Politico - all of whom have declined interest - include Mark Warner (VA), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Al Franken (MN), Mark Begich (AK), Tom Udall (NM), Mark Udall (CO).
Politico reports that pressure is building on New York's Chuck Schumer to once again take on the job - after successful campaigns in 2006 and 2008. (He was up himself in 2010, so he's once again free to campaign for others.)
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9:09 a.m.
Nov 7, '10
Merkley is way smarter than I previously thought. At this point in his career he should be more concerned with his state and Oregon issues than in bolstering other democrat senators for re-election in 2012.