On a week where Senate Democrats should be celebrating their filibuster proof majority, a recent survey indicates their 60th vote, now-Senator Al Franken (D-MN), will have no honeymoon period with voters. 44% of those surveyed indicate an unfavorable opinion of the junior Senator from Minnesota, compared to just 34% who view him favorably.
While it’s important to note that the survey conducted was a nationwide study and not specific to Franken’s home state of Minnesota, the fact he begins his tenure his such high name ID nationwide indicates he could have more of a national platform than Senate Democrats would like him to.
Without question, Franken will be a reliable vote for the liberal wing of Senate Democrats. Here in lies Harry Reid’s problem. If the Democrat base sees Reid as too willing to compromise key elements of their legislative priorities, they may turn to Franken for their sound bites, elevating him as a national hero for liberal causes. A recent piece by Thrush and Raju in politico, while not alluding to Franken, illustrates this:
“We have 60 votes on paper,” [Reid] told the New York Times on Thursday. “But we cannot bulldoze anybody; it doesn’t work that way. My caucus won’t allow it. And we have a very diverse group of Senators philosophically. I am not this morning suddenly flexing my muscles.”
Nice try. But that argument isn’t likely to assuage hungry progressives who have found their agenda stymied by the left-right infighting among Senate Democrat’s and Reid’s old-school consensus-driven management style.
Harry Reid’s “management style” will be put to the test almost immediately among the liberal base. Recent posts by liberal bloggers are demanding action.
Republicans now have an opportunity to take advantage of Franken’s high negatives. The often-quoted, sound-bite heavy Senator elect will enevitablly be a sounding board for the liberal base. Couple that with the Democrats inability to move substantive legislation that the American people support, and we have a new face in the Senate Democrat caucus. Combining Reid’s high unfav’s with Franken’s will give the public a snapshot of where the Senate Democrats priorities really are and will highlight the vast policy differences between the liberal left and independent swing voters.
