The building movement pushing Sen. Elizabeth Warren to challenge Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries now also wants her to consider replace retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, if she vetos the White House bid.
One of the leaders of “Run Warren Run” told Secrets that in addition to making a good president for progressives, Warren would make the perfect Democratic leader to challenge the “Wall Street wing” of the party. What’s more, as Senate Democratic leader, she’d make an even stronger presidential candidate.
“If Elizabeth Warren doesn’t run for president, she should run for leader of the Senate,” said T. Neil Sroka, communications director of Democracy for America, which has teamed with MoveOn.org to organize a national petition calling on Warren to run for president.
.@SenatorReid is one of a kind, & I’m going to miss him when he retires from the Senate. pic.twitter.com/z51l0mBGJN
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 27, 2015
“There will likely not be a coronation to replace Harry Reid as Senate Democratic leader, and Elizabeth Warren is right up there with others as someone who would be taken very seriously,” added the Progressive Change Campaign Committee where Adam Green has been promoting Warren.
Sroka cautioned that those urging Warren to run for president aren’t giving that up in exchange for the Senate leadership post. “I wouldn’t say we’re pivoting on Warren running for president at all — we’re full-steam ahead on that in a big way — we just think that, if she doesn’t run, she should run for Democratic leader. It’s a both/and rather than an either/or,” he said.
After losing control of the Senate last year, Reid elevated Warren into leadership, a sign of her importance to the party and a bow to progressives who wanted bolder moves in the chamber.
Progressives have been rallying behind Warren as somebody ready to fight Wall Street and big money politics, issues other Democrats seem squeamish to address. Both Schumer and Clinton have friendly donors on Wall Street.
Sen. Chuck Schumer is considered a frontrunner for Reid’s job. While he has led reform efforts targeting the financial giants that run Wall Street, Huffington Post said Schumer is known as “Wall Street Chuck” for his ability to raise money there. However, he also takes credit for getting Warren to run for the Senate.
“Run Warren Run” has built an infrastructure in places like New Hampshire should Warren run for president, but the shift to Senate leader appears more likely — and winnable, the progressives said.
“The election for Senate’s next Democratic leader shouldn’t be a slam dunk for any early frontrunner, especially someone closer to Wall Street while the Wall Street wing of the party is dying and the Elizabeth Warren wing is rising,” said Sroka in a statement.
Green’s PCCC said that Warren has lead the fight for progressives in the Senate, even last night during the budget debate.
“Last night, Elizabeth Warren led Senate Democrats to near unanimity around the need to expand Social Security benefits, and she led them to unanimity on her bill to reduce student loan interest rates. Her lifetime of fighting for the little guy against Wall Street power — including her upset victory on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — shows she can think big, wage tough fights against powerful interests, and win key votes in the Senate. She’s the definition of a leader, and that’s why her colleagues and millions of Americans respect her and are inspired by her rise,” said PCCC.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
