Monday, November 24, 2008

Schumer Steps Down at DSCC, Menendez to Take Over

From the Hill - Leading the News
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) has decided against a third term as Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) chairman after leading his party to gains for two straight cycles.

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.) will take over as DSCC chief, reports The New York Times, which sourced the story to unnamed party officials.

Schumer has led the DSCC since after the 2004 elections. Under his leadership, Democrats in 2006 won control of the Senate. In this year’s elections, the Senate Democratic Conference improved from 51 seats to at least 58 seats, with results of races in Minnesota and Georgia still pending. No incumbent Democratic candidate lost a race during Schumer’s tenure.

Schumer earned a reputation as a tireless surrogate and master fundraiser on behalf of his candidates. The DSCC raised more than $121 million during both of the last two cycles, giving it a $32.6 million cash advantage over the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2006 and a $42.7 million advantage this year.

Thanks partly to his success two years ago, Schumer was elevated to vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Conference, the third-highest leadership position in the conference.

He said earlier this year that he was open to a third term as DSCC chairman.

Messages left for the DSCC were not returned by press time.

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