Helping the boss

They may want his job if he gets beat in November, but in the meantime senior Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin are doing what they can to help their leader Sen. Harry Reid win re-election, according to a report today on Politico.com.

Schumer, who is from New York, and Durbin, from Illinois, are introducing Majority Leader Reid to their well-heeled friends, as evidenced by recent fundraisers.

"For Schumer and Durbin, it's all part of a delicate dance," Politico.com reported. "While Capitol Hill insiders say the two men appear to be jockeying to show their fellow Democrats that they'd be the logical successors to Reid, they're also showing Reid unyielding loyalty where it counts: campaign cash."

To do otherwise would appear disloyal and unseemly for Durbin, the No. 2 Democratic leader and Schumer, a senior party leader.

"Insiders say Durbin and Schumer have little choice but to do everything they can for Reid; anything less would risk turning off senators whose votes they'll need if Reid loses and they run for his leadership job," according to the report.