WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was non-committal Thursday when asked if he would like to retain Sen. Joe Lieberman as chairman of a key Senate committee next year if Democrats retain control.

Liberal bloggers, who are angry with the former Democrat for supporting Republican Sen. John McCain for president, have started a campaign to pressure lawmakers to strip him of his job leading the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Asked about that drive, Reid first praised Lieberman for voting with Democrats on many key issues but made no promises the Connecticut senator would keep his chairmanship next year.

“Let’s talk about this year,” Reid initially responded. “Anytime we have a problem here, with the exception of Iraq, Joe Lieberman is with us. So I wish people would leave him alone.”

But what about next year, a reporter asked, when Democrats are expected to expand their majority which is currently razor-thin?

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Pelosi and Reid are pushing undeclared superdelegates to weigh in.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The top two Democrats in Congress are coordinating an effort to get uncommitted superdelegates to publicly endorse a candidate and bring the Democratic presidential nomination fight to a conclusion.

A senior Democratic aide tells CNN that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is already calling uncommitted superdelegates and pressuring them to back either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton between now and next week. Pelosi is working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

In an interview with a San Francisco radio station on Thursday, Reid said he spoke to Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. “We all are going to urge our folks next week to make a decision very quickly," Reid said.

A DNC aide confirmed that Reid and Dean spoke, but said it was the latest in a series of conversations the Democratic leaders have had on this topic.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

(CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid joked on Thursday said the sharp back-and-forth of late between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is having an effect on him.

"It makes me bitter," the Nevada Democrat said, invoking Obama's controversial comments that sparked strong criticisms from Clinton and Republican John McCain.

Reid went on to call the prolonged Democratic "healthy for our party," and predicted, "This is all going to be over fairly soon."

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid revealed Tuesday that he supported a proposal that would ask Democratic superdelegates to weigh in publicly by July 1.

The plan, proposed by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, would mean the Democratic nominee would be known sometime between the end of the primary season in early June and the beginning of July – long before the August nominating convention in Denver.

"Sen. Reid agrees that superdelegates who have already made up their minds declare their support by July 1," Reid spokesman Jim Manley told CNN.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier Tuesday that she “hopes” the contest will end before July, but did not back calls to make that deadline a mandatory one, saying she thought the process “will work its course” without interference.

–CNN Congressional Producer Ted Barrett contributed to this report

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, predicted Tuesday that Western states will play a critical role in electing the next president.

"The road to the White House will lead directly through the West and directly through Nevada and Colorado," Salazar said in a conference call Tuesday with reporters.

Reid, who played an important role in helping his state earn the right to hold an early presidential nominating contest, credited the move for helping to bring attention to issues that affect Western Democrats, and declared Nevada's caucuses will be "the first test of real diversity."

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Reid's letter is a hot item on eBay.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — It may turn out to be the most valuable letter Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ever sent.

The Nevada Democrat's correspondence-in-question was sent earlier this month to Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays, officially calling on him to condemn popular conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's controversial 'phony soldiers' remark. Clear Channel syndicates Limbaugh's show.

Mays refused to condemn the remarks and Limbaugh recently placed Reid's letter on eBay, pledging to match whatever it fetched and donate it all to The Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation.

As of Tuesday morning, the top bid for the letter was over $50,000. The bidding ends Friday.

"I'm going to match the dollar figure, and I have suggested that Sen. Reid and the 40 other Democrats who signed the smear letter … also match the donation," Limbaugh said on his show Monday.

Limbaugh's original remark came on a September 26 program as he and a caller were discussing critics of the Iraq war.

"What's really funny is, they [Iraq war critics] never talk to real soldiers," the caller said. "They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media."

Limbaugh responded, "The phony soldiers."

After the liberal media watchdog group MediaMatters.org and several Democrats quickly condemned the remark, Limbaugh said he was "taken out of context," and added he was referring to one soldier specifically — Jesse MacBeth, a war critic who falsely claimed to be an Iraq veteran.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Sen. Harry Reid predicted Hispanics will back Democrats in 2008.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Hispanic vote is key to winning Nevada in 2008, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters Thursday in a conference call. And the Nevada Democrat predicted that this important voting bloc will back his party’s presidential nominee next year.

Reid claimed the Democratic Party’s outreach efforts to the Hispanic community, as well as the Republican Party’s stand on immigration reform will drive Hispanic voters away from the GOP.

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Limbaugh set off a firestorm last week with his "phony soldiers" comment.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The company that syndicates Rush Limbaugh's popular radio program defended the conservative talk-show host Wednesday over his controversial "phony soldiers" remark, telling the Senate's top Democrat it is "unfair" to assume his comments were directed at combat soldiers who disagree with the Iraq war.

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Mark Mays, the CEO of Clear Channel Communications, wrote, "Over the years Mr. Limbaugh has repeatedly praised the dedication and valor of our brave men and women in uniform.

"Given Mr. Limbaugh's history of support for our soldiers, it would be unfair for me to assume his statements were intended to personally indict combat soldiers simply because they didn't share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq," he added.

Mays' letter was a response to a letter sent by Reid Tuesday, and signed by 41 Senate Democrats, calling on Clear Channel to publicly repudiate the comments. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, were among the senators that signed the letter.

Limbaugh's comments in question came last Wednesday when Limbaugh and a caller were discussing critics of the Iraq war:

"What's really funny is, they [Iraq war critics] never talk to real soldiers," the caller said. "They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media."

"The phony soldiers," Limbaugh then said.

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– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Reid had some harsh words for Rush Limbaugh Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid slammed Rush Limbaugh Monday over his recent controversial "phony soldiers" remark, despite the conservative talk-radio host's protests that his words have been taken out of context.

Limbaugh's comments in question came last Wednesday when he and a caller were discussing critics of the Iraq war:

"What's really funny is, they [Iraq war critics] never talk to real soldiers," the caller said. "They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media."

"The phony soldiers," Limbaugh then said.

Several Democrats released statements late last week condemning the remarks and in a speech on the Senate floor Monday, Reid called the comments "so beyond the pale of decency that it cannot be left alone."

"Just as patriotism is the exclusive realm of neither party, taking a stand against those who spew hate and impugn the integrity of our troops is a job that belongs to all of us," Reid said.

"I can’t help but wonder how my Republican colleagues would have reacted if the tables were turned – if a well-known Democratic radio personality had used the same insulting line of attack against troops who support the war," the Nevada Democrat added.

Responding to his critics on Friday's show, Limbaugh said he was "taken out of context," adding his remark was referring to one soldier specifically — Jesse MacBeth, a vocal war critic who falsely claimed to have served in Iraq.

"The effort here is simply to discredit people that they consider effective and powerful on the right ginning up, leading up into the '08 elections," Limbaugh said Friday.

Full story

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, issued a statement reacting to Alberto Gonzales' resignation Monday.

"Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove," he said. "This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House."

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Thursday that the Minneapolis bridge collapse should be a “wake-up call” for the country.

“We have all over the country crumbling infrastructure — highways, bridges, dams — and we really need to take a hard look at this,” said Reid.

In addition to being the “right thing to do,” Reid also said that repairing infrastructure was “good for America.” “For every billion dollars we spend in our crumbling infrastructure, 47,000 high-paying jobs are created,” added Reid.

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to Minneapolis to investigate the cause of the bridge collapse.

– CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Watch Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin tell CNN’s John Roberts why the Dems are planning the all-nighter.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Recognizing they almost certainly won’t have the votes to pass an amendment to bring U.S. combat troops out of Iraq; Senate Democrats will employ a bit of political theater this week to at least draw attention to their efforts to overcome a Republicans filibuster of the measure.

Ahead of a vote Wednesday to cut off the filibuster, Democrats who control the Senate will keep the chamber open overnight Tuesday into Wednesday to highlight debate the amendment.

“They’re protecting the president instead of protecting the troops,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid complained about the filibuster.

Workmen will set up cots near the Senate floor so senators have a place to slumber – although it’s not clear how many senators will chose to stay up for the rare session much less use the cots.

Democratic senators also will be encouraged to schedule radio, television, and blogoshpere interviews in a "war room" strategy usually scripted for major legislative battles in which the outcome is in doubt.

In this case, Democrats know they will fall short of the required 60 votes to end the filibuster.

Only three Republicans — Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Gordon Smith of Oregon – have said they will vote with the Democrats. A fourth Republican, Susan Collins of Maine, says she’s considering it. And while most Democrats support the measure, known as Reed-Levin for its authors, Sens. Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Carl Levin of Michigan, Democrats acknowledge going into the debate their effort will fail.

– CNN Congressional Producer Ted Barrett

(CNN)–Two leading Republican senators addressed their proposal on Sunday, to start a change in course of the war in Iraq.

On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Sen. John Warner, R.-Va., discussed an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill that they are sponsoring. It would mandate the administration immediately initiate planning for post-September contingencies in Iraq, including a drawdown or redeployment of forces.

"I'm hopeful that, in fact, most Democrats will support our amendment, just as a matter of common sense," said Lugar.

This week, Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Democrats prefer a binding approach — a timeline to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq.

"I think that Senator Reid's thoughts are in error, and to this extent, that we really don't have the power, in Congress, right now, to bind the president to specific dates or specific policies, except in the extreme case that, in an appropriation bill, we would cut off the money for our troops in Iraq," said Lugar.

Lugar's co-sponsor on the legislation, Senator Warner, said he expected some change in strategy from the president. "Well of course, some modificaton to the strategy. But it's going to be taken in context of what his commanding officers recommend of him," Warner said. "He's the president. General Petraeus is not going to decide it," he said of General David Petraeus, the overall commander of U.S. military forces in Iraq. "Petraeus reports, the president decides. He is the commander in chief."

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford

Bush discussed Iraq Tuesday in a town hall event in Cleveland.

Watch Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say the troop increase is not working in Iraq.

CLEVELAND (CNN) — President Bush urged Congress on Tuesday to wait for a September report by top U.S. officials before making any decisions about the war in Iraq, saying the U.S.-led push to pacify Baghdad "just started."

"They just showed up, and they're now beginning operations in full," Bush told participants in a town hall-style event in Cleveland. "And in Washington you've got people saying, 'Stop.'"

Bush ordered nearly 30,000 additional troops to Iraq in January as part of a campaign to quell the country's sectarian warfare. But the Pentagon is slated to deliver an interim report this week showing Iraq has made little progress in meeting political benchmarks, and Republicans in Congress have begun to call for a change in U.S. strategy in the 4-year-old war.

The U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker are slated to deliver a more extensive report on the progress of the campaign in the fall.

"I believe that it's in this nation's interest to give the commander a chance to fully implement his operations, and I believe Congress ought to wait for General Petraeus to come back and give his assessment of the strategy that he's putting in place before they make any decisions," Bush said. "That's what the American people expect."

(CNN)–Too many congressional Republicans have stood in the way of legislative progress Senator Harry Reid said Saturday.

"The immigration vote we had this week was just the latest example," the Nevada senator said in the weekly Democratic radio address. "With that bill, we had a rare chance to make progress on one of the country's top problems. The overwhelming majority of Democrats voted to move forward on a bill even President Bush supported, but just a handful of Republicans joined us."

Reid was also critical of Republicans regarding legislation currently pending in the Senate. "The ethics reform bill passed by a vote of 96-2, but now Republicans are blocking it. The 9/11 commission bill passed with heavy Republican support, but they are also blocking this critical legislation."

In his remarks, Reid said putting partisan politics aside was the best way forward. "This can start next week with the Defense Authorization Bill, which is a new opportunity to change course in Iraq." The bill is expected to include measures that would seek to hasten a pull out of U.S. troops from Iraq. "While a growing number of Republicans are saying the right things on Iraq, we'll soon find out if they have the courage to vote the right way also."

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford

The Senate legislation calls on automakers to improve gas mileage for consumers, including drivers like Jim Rohrer of Tucker, Georgia.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed an energy bill late Thursday that includes an increase in automobile fuel economy, new laws against energy price-gouging and a requirement for huge increases in the production of ethanol.

In an eleventh-hour compromise fashioned after two days of closed-door meetings, an agreement was reached to increase average fuel economy by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon for cars, SUVs and pickup trucks by 2020.

But the fuel economy issue threatened to topple the legislation up to the last minute. Majority Leader Harry Reid held off the vote until late into the evening so several senators could be called back to Capitol Hill to provide the 60-vote margin needed to overcome a threatened filibuster from pro-auto industry senators.

Full story

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Senate should wrap up work on a sweeping overhaul of U.S. immigration laws before the Fourth of July, but its odds of passage remain uncertain, the chamber's Republican leader said Sunday.

Despite an agreement last week that revived the White House-backed measure, "It's hard to know whether the votes will be there to pass it or not," Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CBS' "Face the Nation."

McConnell predicted the Senate would wrap up work on the measure "one way or the other" before the holiday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., yanked the bill off the floor June 7 after supporters failed to muster the votes necessary to cut off debate on a series of amendments that were nibbling away at the delicate political balance the bill's authors had crafted. But Senate leaders agreed to bring the measure back after reaching a deal to consider about 20 amendments, split evenly between Democratic and Republican proposals.

The measure would create a guest-worker program to let migrant workers from other countries work temporarily in the United States, a plan that critics have said would create a permanent underclass of poor, low-skill workers.

But the bill's most controversial aspect is the creation of a pathway to legal status and eventual citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country — a plan critics denounce as "amnesty."

Bush has made reforming U.S. immigration law a top priority for his second term, and Thursday's breakthrough came after he backed an amendment that would that would use $4.4 billion in fees raised by the legislation to boost border security and prevent illegal immigrants from being hired in workplaces.

The bill drew support from just seven Republicans on the procedural motion that led to it being shelved, along with 37 Democrats and one independent — a total of 15 votes shy of the 60 needed to move forward. Reid said Bush needed to bring more GOP allies around to supporting the bill, and Bush's proposal was an effort to woo critics who say the bill needs to place more emphasis on border security.

But the plan still has its critics in both houses of Congress, and Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that the Bush-backed amendment is "a terrible trade."

"Border security is the obligation of the American government," said Hunter, a GOP presidential candidate. "That's like saying we'll send enough bullets to our troops in the field in Iraq or Afghanistan if you do something else, if you in Congress will make the right move. That should be a given."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called Bush's plan "a good idea." But he added, "That alone is not going to satisfy the concerns about whether we are really going to build a workable system."

"Part of the problem is the American people look at this and they remember what happened in '86, when they were told, if you'll accept a one-time amnesty, then we'll get true enforcement," he told CNN. "Well, we all know what happened. We got an amnesty, but no enforcement."

But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said it would be "political malpractice" to simply focus on current law without addressing the status of the immigrants now in the United States illegally.

"This is no longer about immigration reform. This is about, can we govern ourselves?" Graham said. "Can Republicans and Democrats sit down at a table and do the hard things, or are those days behind us? I am confident that the Senate will deliver."

McCain called Reid's comments on Gens. Pace and Petraeus "inappropriate" Thursday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Arizona Sen. John McCain sharply criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Thursday over the Nevada Democrat's comments earlier this week reportedly bashing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace and the top U.S. commander in Iraq, David Petraeus.

"It's incredibly disappointing that Harry Reid would make such disparaging remarks about both the highest ranking officer in the U.S military and the commander of our troops in Iraq," McCain said in a statement. "Generals Pace and Petraeus are two leaders who have spent their entire lives in service to their country and Senator Reid needs to clarify his criticisms, which can only be described as highly inappropriate and regrettable."

In a conference call with liberal bloggers Tuesday, Reid called Pace "incompetent" and made similarly disparaging comments about Patraeus, according to The Politico.

This is not the first time Reid has come under fire for controversial comments. The Senate's top Democrat faced a sharp backlash from the White House in April when he declared the Iraq war "lost," and was quickly criticized by Republican colleagues for calling President Bush a "loser" in May 2005.

On Friday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced he would replace Pace in September. He speculated that Pace's renomination would lead to a "contentious" hearing on Capitol Hill.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney