Harry Reid to Retire: Democratic Senate Minority Leader Retiring After Fracturing Ribs While Exercising
Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid, 75, from Nevada is retiring from the Senate in 2016 after being in the office since 1987, saying that in his career, he has "done my best."
Reid announced that he will not seek re-election after thinking it over following an accident while he was exercising last Jan. 1 which needed surgery. A former amateur boxer, Reid fractured some ribs and facial bones when exercise equipment he was using broke, Reuters said.
He announced that he wanted New York Sen. Chuck Schumer to take his position as leader in the Senate.
"I have had time to ponder and to think," he said. "We've got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the state of Nevada than us. And as a result of that I'm not going to run for re-election."
He said the bruises on his face and eye "are nothing compared to some of the bruises I got when I was fighting in the ring."
"When I was a boy, I dreamed of being an athlete. I listened to those games on the radio, baseball games, and I envisioned me as a man out in center field at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park in Boston," he said.
"But the joy I've gotten with the work that I've done for the people of the state of Nevada has been just as fulfilling as if I had played center field at Yankee Stadium," Reid added.
He said being the minority leader "is just as important as being the majority leader."
"It gives you so much opportunity to do good things for this country. And that's what I am focused on," he said.
During his remaining 22 months in office, Reid has this message for Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell: "My friend, Senator McConnell, don't be too elated. I am going to be here for twenty-two months, and you know what I'm going to be doing? The same thing I've done since I first came to the Senate."
Reid said he will make sure that Democrats take control of the Senate again. "And I feel it is inappropriate for me to soak up all those resources on me when I could be devoting those resources to the caucus, and that's what I intend to do," he said.
He denied that his injury and being a minority leader were the reasons why he will not seek re-election. "The decision that I've made has absolutely nothing to do with my injury, it has nothing to do with my being minority leader and it certainly has nothing to do with my ability to be re-elected because the path to re-election is much easier than probably has been any time that I've run for re-election," he said.
His wife, Landra, praised him for being "a wonderful husband and a wonderful father."
Reid thanked the people of Nevada for their trust. "Someone with my background, my upbringing, to have the experiences I've had is really a miracle and I want the people of the state of Nevada to know that I am so grateful. And I have done my best. I haven't been perfect, but I've really tried my hardest to represent the people of the state of Nevada," he said.
