Top Senate Dem Backs Schumer For Leadership Post

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN)The No. 2 Senate Democrat said Chuck Schumer's high-profile split with the President over the Iran nuclear deal won't endanger the New York senator's bid to become the next Senate Democratic leader.

"I don't think the choice of the next Senate leader is going to be based on any single vote. Members of the caucus respect Chuck and know he's gone through a thoughtful reflection. I don't think it has any impact on the leadership race," Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told the Hill newspaper in an interview Tuesday.

Durbin, who is Schumer's former roommate in Washington and would be a likely candidate for the top post in his party, said he wasn't surprised his colleague came out against the deal.

"I can tell you that I know Chuck pretty well. I have listened to him carefully and heard his comments about the negotiations carefully," Durbin told the Hill. "I always expected him to be against the agreement. This didn't come as a major shock or surprise."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/11/politics/chuck-schumer-democratic-leader/index.html