Harry Reid Considers Three Names for Campaign Manager
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering at least three Democratic operatives to manage his re-election campaign in Nevada in 2016, according to a national Democratic source familiar with the discussions.
Preston Elliott, Sarah Benzing and Anne Caprara are all under discussion as top choices to lead a potential Reid bid for a sixth term, the source said.
Reid will be a top target of national Republicans, who have few offensive opportunities on a map far more favorable to Democrats than 2014. In winning back the majority, Republicans picked up eight seats this month and could add a ninth in the Dec. 6 runoff in Louisiana.
Widely considered three of the party’s most talented political hands, the candidates for campaign manager could also have other options for 2016. Elliott won accolades this year for his management of North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan’s unsuccessful re-election bid. He’s worked for Reid before , running the Nevada coordinated campaign during Reid’s 2010 race.
But Elliott is also likely being considered for a top position at the DSCC. The Montana native ran the 2012 re-election campaign of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who was named DSCC chairman on Thursday.
Benzing managed Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley’s campaign. Before that she led the successful campaign efforts of Massachusetts Sen. Edward J. Markey in 2013, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2012 and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010. She previously served as the DSCC’s national field director in 2008.
Caprara is coming off her second cycle at the DSCC. She served as deputy political director in 2012 before being promoted to political director for the midterms. She was previously chief of staff to former Reps. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., and Betty Sutton, D-Ohio.
A Reid spokesman did not return an email seeking comment.
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