Politics

Harry Reid Refuses To Endorse Hillary Ahead Of Meeting With Senate Dems [AUDIO]

Al Weaver Reporter
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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid explained in a radio interview Monday morning that he is not quite ready to endorse Hillary Clinton for president ahead of a meeting between the former secretary and Senate Democrats.

While Reid told Nevada public radio station KNPR that he isn’t set to make an endorsement yet, he intimated one could be coming in the future. While the longtime Nevada Democrat was asked directly about Clinton, he did speak highly of other candidates who have jumped in, especially former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“You know there are a few other candidates. Got a very fine governor from Maryland, O’Malley who’s been in Nevada lots of times,” Reid said.“I’m really a Clinton fan, but right now, I’ve not endorsed anyone. I’m going to an event for Hillary in a few days, but I’ll do my endorsement later,” Reid said.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer,” Reid said when asked about a timeline. “[Bernie Sanders] is one of the nicest people I have in the Senate Democratic Caucus, and I like him a lot. So, but anyway I’m more of a Clinton fan at this stage.”

Reid referred to Sanders, a self-avowed socialist as a “progressive guy, and that’s an understatement.

The outgoing senator’s comments come as Clinton is set to meet with Senate Democrats Tuesday for lunch.

Reid also offered up his take on the Democrats’ chances to retake the Senate in 2016, saying they are looking to pick off GOP controlled seats in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, which is being vacated by Sen. Marco Rubio.

“We’ll pick up enough seats to retake the [Democratic] majority and then, the odds are, with all the infighting with the Republicans as to whether they like Trump more than they like Bush, I think that we should have a Democratic president still,”  Reid said.