Senate Democrats appear likely to put off until January a decision on who will head up the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2010 cycle, a senior Democrat said Tuesday.

Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), the current DSCC chairman and vice chairman of the Democratic Conference, has been expected to vacate the DSCC slot to make way for his top apprentice, Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.). Sources say Schumer still is likely to step aside early next year, but the ambitious New Yorker has been rethinking that decision in recent days. Those sources added that Democratic leaders are willing to push off the transition for now.

Schumer has led the DSCC for two consecutive campaign cycles, during which Democrats first retook the Senate majority and then enlarged their hold on the chamber.