Posted on 12/27/2005 1:18:25 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON — Charles Schumer may be New York's less-famous senator, but he managed to keep a hand — or quote — in almost every major congressional battle in 2005, expanding his role in national politics even as he trumpets local issues.
On Wednesday, Schumer, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, will complete his annual circuit of visits to all 62 counties in New York state. The appearance marks the end of his first year in a more powerful role and the beginning of a new year that will put him to the test.
Schumer is counting on his time-tested local approach to help Democratic Senate candidates around the country win votes in 2006, particularly in seven states where he believes Democrats can recapture Republican seats.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who talks with Schumer several times a day every day, said that despite the New Yorker's well-earned reputation as a prince of press clippings, he is more valuable to Democrats as a long-term strategist.
"I do think that his mania for the media is exaggerated," said Reid. "Everyone jokes about it, but he has a very interesting view as to what you do and how it will be seen in the eyes of the public ... like a chess player thinking many moves ahead."
Reid said Schumer steered his party through the last political battle in Congress this year — a temporary renewal of the Patriot Act. Republicans had sought a permanent extension.
"I can say without any amount of puffing that no one was more responsible for our working out the Patriot Act to our satisfaction and to the benefit of the country than Schumer," said Reid.
From the television airways to congressional hallways, Schumer has become a dominant voice within his party on a host of other issues, ranging from free trade to Supreme Court vacancies to overhauling Social Security.
Not to mention energy policy. Or avian flu. Or even the use of umbilical cord blood to help those afflicted with blood diseases like leukemia.
All of that effort has slowed — but not by much — his local appearances in New York.
Schumer has made an annual ritual out of visiting every county in the state at least once a year.
This year, with his workload as a member of Senate Democratic leadership, he will finish that circuit later than ever, with a Wednesday appearance in Columbia County.
Schumer said he again plans to visit every New York county in 2006, despite the increased demands of the national election effort.
The constant appearances, he said, are a way to prevent himself from "going Washington" — strange talk for a man who has been a member of Congress since 1981.
"While I certainly have a larger role in Washington, if you forget the local part of the job, you're not doing your job effectively," he said.
After winning a whopping 61 out of 62 counties in his 2004 bid, Schumer's aides tease him that the only reason he lost Hamilton County was that it has a small population and the gregarious senator actually met every voter.
Hamilton County GOP chairman William Farber said his rural and conservative constituency isn't inclined to agree with the senator on national issues, particularly Supreme Court picks. The senator's local appearances, meanwhile, aren't all they're cracked up to be, Farber added.
"One year he came here to talk about getting the Indian Lake Fire Department some federal money, and the next year he came back and did a photo op for the very same money," said Farber.
Besides the local touch, Schumer has also proven a deft hand in fundraising.
He spent much of 2005 raising millions of dollars for Senate Democrats, and by the last reporting period the DSCC had double the cash on hand of their Republican counterpart.
Schumer said his party will need all that and more to win back some of the four seats they lost in 2004.
"If we can pick up two or three we'd be very happy," said Schumer.
Top on the senator's list are Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, and Arizona.
Longtime Missouri GOP strategist Lloyd Smith, who is a senior adviser to Sen. Jim Talent (news, bio, voting record), scoffed at the notion his state might choose a Democrat next year over Talent.
"There's gonna be an attempt to nationalize this race by the Chuck Schumers and the Hillary Clintons, but ultimately the political singing senators from New York aren't going to play that well here," said Smith.
It should be as easy as herding ducks.
U.S. Army Sgt. Tim Hughes tries to direct a group of ducks Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, on a farm in Roy, Wash. The farm visit gives soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, and the 51st Military Police Detachment training in how to work with farm animals they may encounter while on patrol in war situations in Iraq and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Cripes.. Schuuuumah has a wet dream and it's news.
What a schmuck.
Chuck's all talk. Literally. With his wife as the head of NYC's DOT and him as senator, theres no telling what possible corruption there is here. One of them should not be in their position.
Funny how none of them asked little Chuckie about the Seat they have a better then average chance of losing here in MN. Give the Democrats Party's behavior this month, little Chuckie might as well plan on LOSING seats again.
Sen. Schumer Sets Sights High for 2006 - Found a larger rock to crawl under...
He's a media whore,nothing more nothing less !!!!
Any apology yet from Schumer for his blatant invasion of privacy rights by illegally accessing the credit report of Lt. Governor Steele of Maryland?
Senator Schumer has set his sights high. He wants to bully his way onto camera 400 times to talk about accomplishing nothing instead of the 350 times he did this year.
Isn't schumer overdue for a heart attack?
chuckie has a wife??
i thought he was a homosexual.
No. That was a rumor.
Spread by his wife.
This is nothing but the usual Christmas week before an even year rat tough talk. They will lose seats in both Houses.
It will be 4, 5 or 6 in Congress and 1 or 2 in the Senate, net.
BTTT!!
Nah, he just plays one in parades.
(wish I could find that pic of him with the fag flag.)
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