Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid placed a phone call late last week to Florida’s newly independent Senate candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist, and some Crist allies are taking it as a sign of cooperation to come.
According to people familiar with the call, the Nevada Democrat was just wishing Crist well. But coming as Republicans from Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are railing against Crist for his policy stances and decision to bolt their party’s primary, Reid apparently sees an opening –- and possibly another vote for a Democratic majority leader next year in what could be a near-even partisan breakdown.
Reid’s office doesn’t want to talk about it. The potential for partnership with Crist could anger party activists and black lawmakers supporting the likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Kendrick Meek. Reid can’t afford to alienate anybody in his party, as he is facing his own uphill re-election battle back in Nevada. Continue reading here.