Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been chosen as a member of Democratic leadership, filling a newly created post to help the party maintain relationships with liberal interest groups.
Speculation began to emerge Wednesday night that soon-to-be Minority Leader Harry Reid wanted Warren to occupy such a coalitions role in an increasingly left-leaning Democratic caucus. The liberal champion would seem to be a perfect fit — Warren barnstormed the country for Senate candidates in 2014 trumpeting her populist, anti-Wall Street vision and strongly left fiscal policies.
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Warren’s role is officially titled strategic policy adviser to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. She gives the Democratic hierarchy some fresh blood after Senate and gubernatorial candidates were drubbed last Tuesday, thinning the party’s bench for future leadership positions.
Adding Warren, Democrats say, would bring in a nationally known name who could help sharpen the Democratic message as it goes toe-to-toe with the new Senate Republican majority. The move would likely be viewed favorably by an increasingly liberal caucus.
But elevating Warren could also be seen as an indication that the new Senate Democratic minority is less interested in bipartisan compromises,even as the White House and Senate Republicans are signaling they want to cut deals in the new Congress.
This story has been updated.
