Where Does Harry Reid's Departure Leave Sen. Durbin?

Sen. Harry Reid's retirement announcement brings with it questions about whether Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is interested in the minority leader role.

Durbin is currently the Democratic Whip in the Senate. 

Durbin released a statement praising Reid as “one of the ablest leaders of the Senate Democratic caucus in modern history,” but he did not suggest what his plans are going forward.

Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat, but Washington reporters have noticed he’s been avoiding the spotlight in recent years.  

Reid has already endorsed New York Sen. Charles Schumer to replace him, but a Durbin source told CNN Friday that,“it’s too soon to rule him out of the fight.”

Should Durbin challenge Schumer for the post, some note the move could send a message to liberal senators who want to break away from the image the party has become too closely tied to Wall Street.
 

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