Posted on 12/02/2016 3:02:00 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
President-elect Donald Trump is set to meet Friday with North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a red-state Democrat, which could put Senate Democrats at a further disadvantage if she were to join the Trump administration.
Heitkamp told CNN Thursday she has no inkling of what the meeting may be about, but said she was open to discussing serving in a Trump administration.
News of the meeting set off a panic among top Democrats, some of whom began to privately make the case that Heitkamp should stay in the Senate rather than give up a seat that would likely be a GOP pickup. The incoming chairman of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee told CNN he had spoken with Heitkamp about the issue Thursday.
A transition source said Heitkamp could be a possibility for energy secretary.
"I think it's absolutely critical to have a conversation," Heitkamp said when asked if she would be open to being in the Trump administration. "It's good for my state. It's good for the work that I do here, to understand and share some priorities for the country and for the state of North Dakota and I look forward to having that discussion."
In a statement about the meeting, Heitkamp said she would work with both sides of the aisle -- whatever her role.
"Whatever job I do, I hope to work with the President-elect and all of my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle to best support my state," she said.
While any position is far from a done deal, having Heitkamp in the Cabinet would be a double win for Republicans, and a blow to Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc-7.com ...
Trump in a word...
B R I L L I A N T !
I was wondering about her.
Trump. Need I say more?
This appointment could give Trump some non-partisan credentials.
According to Ron Gunzburger, state Representative Becker is thinking of running in 2018.
Did the same thing with Nicky Halley.
Palin at Interior Secretary.
Yesterday they were talking about Manchin (D-WV) for Energy. Looks like it’ll go to one D Senator from a ‘red’ state one way or another. Whomever would likely be succeeded in the Senate by a Republican, helping the balance in the chamber.
Sometimes known as,"The Art of the Deal".
Its going to be so fun watching the Dems collectively crap themselves.
Agreed. And we have such a slim margin, it’s something that needs to be done.
All the other guys would simply moan about it. He’s doing something about it.
I also heard he was considering Senator Joe Manchin of WVa, who is a democrat, for some type of position within the administration as well. That would take 2 democrat senators out of the fight in the senate, and would probably be replaced by two republicans who would owe their position to Trump.
It’s more than likely Rep. Cramer will be appointed to Heitkamp’s seat. She doesn’t want to face him in 2018. She lucked out in 2012 because freshman Rep. Rick Berg turned out to be unusually weak. Berg should’ve stayed in the House and Cramer should’ve been the Senate nominee in ‘12, as he would’ve handily won.
Nice. So do the Dems vote not to confirm a fellow Democrat who is likely to be a little ticked off by the whole thing? And face the accusation of misogyny to boot? Or confirm her and lose the seat? I like.
Also, it should be noted that in ‘18 the D’s have a LOT of Senators up for reelection. The class that came in with Obama in ‘08. That should swing the margins back to the Rs, assuming Trump continues his present course of getting things done.
WVA’s Governor is a Democrat so no change in party there if Manchin is named to Trump’s Cabinet.
Remember, WV has an outgoing Dem Governor and a rich Democrat bought the office, so if Manchin leaves early, a Dem, likely further to his left, will be appointed and hold the seat for another 2 years.
They’d vote for her out of respect for a sitting Senator.
Its a seat they’re gonna lose anyway.
That’s right. If we can get this woman out of the Senate, the ratio will move from 51-46, to 52-45. There are two independents.
That might cover the McCain family, both serving in the Senate, that always want to cause trouble.
Mnuchin and Manchin are both Democrats.
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