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Politics : President Barack Obama -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (26789)	7/29/2008 10:35:07 PM
From: tejek	Respond to of 149317

Reid Dares Republicans to Stay Over Break By David M. Herszenhorn WASHINGTON — The indictment of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska on Tuesday lifted Democrats’ hopes of winning a Senate seat in Alaska — a feat they have not accomplished in the Last Frontier since 1974. But the majority leader, Senator Harry Reid, said he was actually feeling good about Senate races across the country. And he said that if Republicans wanted to stay in Washington through August to debate energy policy instead of going home to campaign, well, that was just fine by him. With a bitter fight raging over how to address high gasoline prices, some Republicans have intimated that the Senate should not leave for the August recess at the end of this week unless it can pass some sort of energy legislation. In fact, the Democrats have not officially “recessed” for more than a year because they do not want to give President Bush the chance to make appointments to vacant jobs that require Senate confirmation. And Mr. Reid said he would be happy to have Republicans join the lone Democrat coming in to open the Senate during the break. “We don’t need the Republicans’ permission to adjourn,” he said, scoffing at the question at a news conference on Tuesday. “We’re going to be in pro form session. This is because of President Bush not being fair on nominations. So we’re going to be here anyway.” But then, feeling feisty about the Democrats’ election prospects, he basically dared Republicans to stick around Washington. “We do not have a single Democratic incumbent — has any trouble at all. We’re in great shape,” Mr. Reid said. “There are 11 Republicans that we have races that they should be worried about, and they are worried about them.” “So if they want to stay here and work during the August recess, it’s fine with us,” he continued. “I’m not sure it’s fine with the Republican senators who have these challengers with them. But we’re here. I have no problem. If they — if they think that it’s going to hurt us in any way, I’m not concerned at all, because it won’t hurt us one bit.” Republicans are certainly concerned about November — they are at a numerical disadvantage having to defend 23 seats compared to just 12 for Democrats — but they are hardly as concerned as Mr. Reid suggested. Still, with the indictment of Mr. Stevens dominating news coverage, Republicans generally avoided public comment on Tuesday. So it remains to be seen if they will take up the dare. Stay tuned. thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com