[cbkaty]

Barack Obama, Illinois

I am curious.... It is my understanding that it takes a bit of seniority to gain a chair on these committees.....right?

[Quilla]

Elevation to star status trumps seniority in democrat circles. They have so few stars these days.

[OXENinFLA]

It is my understanding that it takes a bit of seniority to gain a chair on these committees.....right?

I think we all said that same thing when Hillary got on the Senate Armed Services Committee

[OXENinFLA]

committee membership - Senators are assigned to specific committees by their party conference. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.

[livius]

I think he and Mel Martinez (R, FL) are junior senators, and there is probably a chair reserved for a junior senator from each party.

[piasa]

Affirmative action does wonders to speed up the process. Obama is being groomed to run for president in the event the Republicans ever put Condi Rice on the ticket.