Is Menendez in line for another leadership position?

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 03:45:00 PM EST

While the decision of Byron Dorgan to not seek re-election to his Senate seat complicates things for Senator Menendez in his role leading the DSCC, Roll Call says it may put him in line for bigger and better things in the Democratic Leadership. The retirement creates an opening for the head of the Democratic Policy Committee and the Senator seems to be on the short list:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will appoint Dorgan's successor. As a result, lawmakers will not campaign among colleagues for the gavel but instead make quiet entreaties to their leader.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) is considered a likely candidate. During his career in the House, Menendez headed the Democratic Caucus. Reid appointed Menendez to the Finance Committee in January 2009, a move colleagues interpreted as a reward for his agreement to lead the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) this cycle.
One Democratic aide said the likelihood of Menendez landing the job depends on whether Reid promised him special consideration, in addition to the Finance appointment, in return for running the DSCC. The aide said Menendez's claim would also hinge on his track record as campaign chief, a job that got a little harder with the retirements of Dorgan and Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), as well as tough challenges in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Nevada.

It appears that if Menendez can help the party hold their own in the 2010 Senate contests, he could be in line for bigger and better things within the leadership of the Senate Democrats. He may want to pay attention to Massachusetts before he gets to the November races because that special election appears to be much closer than many would prefer or expect.

Jason Springer :: Is Menendez in line for another leadership position?

Tags: democratic policy committee, byron dorgan, DSCC, Bob Menendez, (All Tags)

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Is Menendez in line for another leadership position? | 3 comments

I just wonder (0.00 / 0)

if Lautenberg might be in line for Reid's job...

by: Thurman Hart @ Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 22:26:13 PM UTC

What makes you think that? (0.00 / 0)

When he returned to the Senate in 2002, he went to the back of the line. Despite the fact that Menendez is the junior Senator from NJ, he probably has a better shot at Reid's job than Lautenberg. The best that we can hope from Frank is that he stays healthy enough to serve until 2014 at least.

The bigger question should be what we will see from the Senate if Menendez is heading the Senate Policy Committee. Will he redeem past votes for onerous legislation like DOMA and the bankruptcy bill by leading repeal efforts or will we get more of the same crap that he has always given us?

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 22:34:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]