Embattled Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu refused to say if she would back Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid’s bid to remain the leader of her party.
Landrieu twice refused to answer the question in a Senate debate on WWL-TV in New Orleans.
Senator Landrieu was asked a simple question, “Will you vote for Harry Reid for leader if you’re reelected?”
Her answer was, “If Harry Reid were the only problem, not Mitch McConnell, and not some the President himself, presents some problems, Harry Reid presents some problems, Mitch McConnell presents some problems. If it were that easy, you know, we could talk about individual personalities, but the country is polarized. That is the truth – the country is polarized.”
She wasn’t done, blaming the Senate itself for polarization.
“It’s very difficult where you’ve got House seats where people represent all conservatives or all liberals, but in the Senate the 100 of us represent whole states. So we can try to show that gridlock can be broken, and I’ve tried to do that.”
Having not addressed the question, the moderator re-asked it.
“I’m gonna make my decision,” she said. “I said a couple of months ago that I would, but I’m gonna make my decision based on what is before me and who is running.”
“So you’re not committing?” the moderator asked.
“I’m going to wait to see what the leadership looks like,” she replied. “Because, let me just say this – you’re pressing me on it, so I’m going to press back – my job is to represent this state, my job is to get things done for this state. I don’t go there to support Mitch McConnell or Harry Reid, I go there to represent this state. So, we’ll see.”
She concluded by saying, “I think Harry Reid gets beat up more than he deserves, and I’m not saying ‘yes’ and I’m not saying ‘no.’ I will see what the leadership is, what the line-up is, and then make my decision based on that.”
Senator Landrieu voted for Senator Harry Reid to be Majority Leader in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
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UPDATE:
FLASHBACK: In May, Senator Landrieu was much less evasive on the issue. When asked by MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt if she would back Harry Reid, Senator Landrieu said, “Well, if he runs, if he runs I will.”
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