Majority Leader Harry Ried Strggles for 2010 Relection

Throughout the health care debate, Majority leader Harry Reid has involved himself to an unusual degree in assembling the final measure. He met with virtually every Senate Democrat and urged his colleagues to negotiate compromises among themselves and to bring their concerns directly to him. Mr. Reid has personally shepherded the complex measure through a favorable Congressional Budget Office review and held regular detailed discussions with Douglas W. Elmendorf, director of the office. On Dec 3, he announced that he will introduce a bill to pass at the Senate. Why is he overworking to win his health care legislation? This is because of the upcoming 2010 reelection.

During an election year, sentators hunker down and work on their image. Senators follow their state’s public opinion, sit for interviews, and address populist issues to garner support. However, Nevada Senator Reid is locked in a bitterly partisan fight over the health care debate, and he is one of the team captains. Being forced to make his clear standpoint, it is easy for Nevada voters to decide on whether they agree or disagree. Unfortunately, fifty-two percent of Nevadans oppose the Democrats’ plan for health reform. What is worse, new poll numbers from a Mason-Dixon Poll show that Reid has a low approval rating of 38 percent. In potential match-ups with both candidates currently vying for the GOP nomination, Reid loses to both.

Therefore, Reid not only has to work on his image, run ads around most of Nevada, but also needs to work on the health care bill to win the support of Nevada voters. I believe that one option is to propose a liberal bill, get a filibuster, and then encourage immediate negotiations on alternative approaches to come to a moderate compromise to satisfy his constituencies.