It’s not often that you hear any House Democrat holding up Harry Reid, of all people, as a model.
But that’s what some House Democrats are doing privately as they grumble that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has avoided any significant Caucus shake-ups since Democrats suffered historic losses in the midterm elections.
“If you just look at the things that happened since she’s been [elected Minority] Leader, she hasn’t changed anyone around her,” one senior Democratic aide said. “She’s surrounded herself with people who are unflaggingly loyal but don’t have the same work ethic she does.”
On the other hand, the aide said Senate Majority Leader Reid appears to be trying to completely restructure his caucus, even though the Senate stayed in Democratic hands on Nov. 2. The Nevada Democrat has shaken up his staff, including by replacing his chief of staff, and publicly turned over policy and messaging coordination duties to the No. 3 Democrat, Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.). Reid asked Schumer, who serves as Conference vice chairman, to lead a newly reformulated Democratic Policy Committee — a role that gives him oversight of Caucus communications.
Pelosi, meanwhile, has sought to deflect any blame for the party’s losses away from her leadership — pointing instead to the almost 10 percent unemployment rate and a flood of outside money that influenced outcomes. The California Democrat, who has taken a lot of heat for deciding to stand as party leader in the minority next Congress, has argued that Democrats must communicate better with the public so voters understand their positions, but so far she has given no indication of what changes she plans to implement.
Full story: Pelosi Seems to See No Need for Change : Roll Call