Washington (CNN) - Washington Sen. Patty Murray accepted the chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Tuesday morning, two sources confirm to CNN.
"She was pushed," a source close to Murray told CNN. "It certainly wasn't something she had any plan for election day."
Thirty-three Senate seats are up for grabs in 2012, with 23 of those belonging to Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them.
It's doubtful that the political climate will be as friendly in 2012 to Democrats as it was in 2006, when the party won back control of both the House and the Senate. Among those Democratic senators who could face challenging re-elections: Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Jim Webb of Virginia, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Claire McKaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Bill Nelson of Florida, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
(Updated at 12:29 p.m. ET)
Nice to see the democratic party in the hands of a devout liberal senator like Patty Murray.
Now this is GREAT news for Republicans! Even more proof that the clueless DemocRATS just don't get it.
This woman is one of the most liberal fools out there. She barely won re-election in one of the most liberal states in the country. It is nice to see the clueless DemocRATS doubling down on their insane liberal agenda by appointing the most left amongst them to lead them to their next humiliating defeat in 2012.
Come 2012, the DemocRATS will be joining the Whig Party in the dust bin of history. Hopefully we survive Obozo, Reid and Pelosi until then. HURRY 2012!!!
YIPEEE!!!! YA-HOO!! I think Patty would do a good job!!
lol...Patty Murray is dumber than a box of rocks.....and a raging loon as well.
Sen. McCaskill nor Sen. Brown have anything to worry about. However, my senator, Jim Webb does. He's a centrist democrat who wants to play both sides of the aisle, but conservatives in Virginia don't like that, so they(the Re"Fascists"icans) will be trying extremely hard to unseat him.
Wow. I guess conservatives in Washington State are really angry.
As a Seattle native she is a great PROGRESSIVE and LIBERAL Democrat. Very good choice.
Murray is a moonbat's moonbat who barely got reelected in a solidly blue state. Foolish move on the dems part. Foolish... but welcome.
It's funny to me when people say "I hope this country survives Obama/Reid/Pelosi. Pelosi was re-elected by 80% of her district. 80 PERCENT. So I'm sure, whether or not rural America likes her, she was doing a good enough job for her constituents. Reid won re-election too, remember that? Some people just kill me, it's like they're not living in reality.