Key Democrats are already urging the White House to consider embattled Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor to replace retiring Attorney General Eric Holder if he loses his reelection push, believing that the Senate would be quick to approve him and help President Obama avoid another nasty nomination fight.
“A smooth, ‘inexpensive,’ confirmation process has to be a top priority for Obama and [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid,” said a source monitoring the pro-Pryor effort.
A Pryor pick would also be an easy vote for some Republicans who like the former Arkansas attorney general, making it a potentially important bipartisan vote that could set the stage for the final two years of the Obama administration.
And, added another source, if the Democrats lose control of the Senate, it may be the only choice Obama would win with. Critics of Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. would be expected to focus on his work for Obama before the Supreme Court on controversial issues such as Obamacare.
Some six months ago, administration associates said that early vetting on Pryor for the top Justice job had been completed as they began preparing for the day Holder left.
Current polls have Pryor neck-and-neck with challenger Rep. Tom Cotton. Many analysts said that the race leans Republican.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
