Washington, D.C. – Last week, the mainstream media finally caught up to what the NRSC has been telling the world for a year. Chuck Schumer’s failed leadership as Majority Leader is due to his every move being aimed at avoiding a primary challenge from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Now, Democrat Senators in Schumer’s own caucus are whispering the same thing to reporters:
One Democratic senator, who requested anonymity to discuss the internal dynamics of the caucus, said that Schumer’s reluctance to say he would support either Manchin or Sinema in a future primary “shows how disgruntled he is” with his centrist colleagues.
The senator said Schumer also doesn’t want to divide Democrats in his home state ahead of his own re-election campaign this year. A second Democratic senator also speculated that Schumer’s decision is driven by a desire to avoid a fight with progressive activists.
Any expression of support for Manchin or Sinema could fuel calls for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to challenge him in the primary or — more likely — merely erode his margin of victory in the primary or general elections by dampening enthusiasm among Democratic voters.
Ocasio-Cortez has talked openly about supporting a primary to Sinema, and she is a rising political star who hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a Senate campaign.
As Senate Democrats quickly realize that their time in charge of the Upper Chamber is quickly coming to an end, they are beginning to build a narrative as to why they failed so badly.
Blaming their Leader’s self-serving decisions seems as good of a reason as any.
Statement from NRSC Spokesman T.W. Arrighi: “The drumbeat is getting louder. Senate Democrats are facing defeat in November, and are beginning to point fingers at Chuck Schumer. Sacrificing your majority in exchange for avoiding a primary from AOC is not a trade that any member of Schumer’s caucus would make, but their Leader is doing it anyway.”
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