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*** UPDATED x1 - Durbin says “choice” is to remain in Senate *** Durbin reelected to whip job
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* From The Hill…
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday was elected Senate Democratic leader, succeeding retiring Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
Schumer appointed two women to high-ranking posts on his team, tapping Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) to serve as assistant Democratic leader and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) to chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Center. […]
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) was re-elected as Senate Democratic whip.
So, that pretty much seals it. Highly, highly doubtful there will be a gubernatorial bid in his future.
*** UPDATE *** And he confirms it…
After the vote, Durbin was asked how staying on as his party’s Senate whip would affect the prospects of challenging Rauner.
Durbin said: “I kept telling people of Illinois, I’ve got a pretty important job working in the United States Senate in the No. 2 Democratic position.
“It was interesting to me that the day after the (Nov. 
election, many of them came up to me and said, ‘Stay in the Senate. We need you.’”
Asked by a reporter whether that was his choice, Durbin replied, “That’s my choice.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 9:56 am
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Never thought he’d run for governor at this stage in his career.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:00 am
Durbin is locked in now, why come back here to get pummeled for months and months? You wouldn’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:03 am
===Durbin is locked in now, why come back here to get pummeled for months and months? You wouldn’t.===
R president, R senate, the total state of dysfunction of Washington. He may want a change, although unlikely, I think the odds of him actually running have improved since the election. If it was a D president, and a D senate there would be zero chance.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:07 am
Totally agree with Word and Willy. When this was discussed here much earlier I said running for Governor was not in his plan. I think this is the end of any more discussion or speculation.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:11 am
===I think the odds of him actually running have improved since the election===
Meh. I’ll believe it when I see it. He’s already said twice recently that he has no interest.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:14 am
Time to come together, clear the way, and draft Sheriff Tom Dart. It ain’t a deep bench and he’s one of the only folks with the full package.
Comment by *...* Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:16 am
Why on earth would Senator Durbin want to take on the Illinois governor’s gig? What a mess it has been and is for the last 15+ years. Congress is a mess, too, but at least the feds can print money.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:16 am
Obama’s out of a job, right? He’d be great. Or what about Michelle? No elective experience, but Rauner has none either.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:19 am
===Or what about Michelle?===
How’s she gonna run in Illinois when she’s living in New York?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:25 am
Confused: Murray named Assistant Democratic Leader. Durbin retains whip title and number 2 in hierarchy but loses Assistant Leader title? Murry 3 in hierarchy?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:30 am
===she’s living in New York===
They’re staying in DC for now, presumably until their youngest is out of high school.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:30 am
===Meh. I’ll believe it when I see it. He’s already said twice recently that he has no interest.===
I’m certainly not predicting it. But let’s see what a year under the esteemed president-elect does for him. You never know.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:33 am
==But let’s see what a year under the esteemed president-elect does for him.==
If he wants to win, he can’t wait a year to start.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 10:41 am
So silly. He was never even seriously considering this. Everyone likes to see their names mentioned, but Dick was never going to make this run. If he was, he’d have done it two terms ago.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 11:07 am
==Time to come together, clear the way, and draft Sheriff Tom Dart. It ain’t a deep bench and he’s one of the only folks with the full package.==
“Yes, please do” - Governor Rauner
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 11:08 am
Tom Dart - “With me as Governor, the state will be as safe as Cook County.”
/s/ Yep, that will play well downstate. Rauner might even make the first campaign contribution
Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 11:11 am
“How’s she gonna run in Illinois when she’s living in New York?”
A little thing like residency didn’t exactly stop Rahm, now did it?
Comment by Michael Westen Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 11:36 am
===A little thing like residency didn’t exactly stop Rahm, now did it?===
Oh, please.
People need to stop living in fantasy land.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 11:37 am
it makes sense from a personal perspective. Being a senior member in the Senate vs the Governor of a state that politically is locked up blue and on top of it is in a pretty nasty fiscal situation…
no brainer. Even been to DC and see how Congress and Senators are treated? its amazing. Heck even the phone company has DIFFERENT TEAMS just to service their needs.
Become the gov, and you are pretty much where the buck/blame will stop… Why trade in an awesome Fed gig for being the gov in illinois. Makes total sense to me.
Comment by Ron O - now in Texas Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 11:46 am
At exactly what point did Michelle Obama ever state, demonstrate or indicate in any other way that she was interested in elective office. Anywhere?
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Don’t forget that there is still a considerable amount of work in constituent services that a US Senator can, and in Durbin’s case, actually does. Too much focus is on the miserable condition of the legislative and political environment in DC. With GOP dominated Capitol, that work is even more difficult to meet the high expectations of providing services for Illinois’ citizens. He still has plenty to do as a US Senator.
Comment by CLJ Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 12:34 pm
Durbin has done so little for Illinois that retaining the leadership seat really doesn’t mean much…
Comment by Liberty Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 1:07 pm
Durbin. Pfft.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Congrats to Sen. Dick Durbin, Senate Democratic whip.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 16, 16 @ 3:52 pm