Collins was not pleased that he was singled out in such a way. In an interview, she calls Schumer’s comments an ‘extraordinary’ background of his most natural ally throughout the corridor. And she said there had been no contact with the Democratic leader since the election: “He has not spoken to me, no.”
“Why Chuck apparently goes to great lengths to alienate the most dual member of the Senate is a mystery to me,” Collins said. ‘And that should only reflect his extraordinary frustration at wasting $ 100 million in the state of Maine in an attempt to defeat me. And for me to win by a strong margin. ”
Collins maintains good relations with a number of Senate Democrats despite the party’s campaign to defeat her last year. She has also held four phone calls with President Joe Biden since her inauguration and even organized GOP senators to join his first major meeting of the Oval Office.
But unless the Senate Democrats can bring about a unilateral rule change to end the legislative filibuster, Collins’ vote is likely to become a popular prize for Schumer as well. She had a warmer relationship with his predecessor, former senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), But criticized Schumer’s handling of the minimum wage issue and his use of reconciliation with party lines to pass coronavirus legislation.
Their beef started in earnest when Schumer decided to target Collins in a campaign that became extraordinarily personal. Both Collins and the Democratic candidate, Sara Gideon, were the targets of negative advertising, and spending on the race overwhelmed Vacation Land like no previous Senate contest.
Still, there’s no mystery why Schumer chose to play in Maine: it looked like one of the Democrats’ best pick-up opportunities going forward. That was before Collins, despite deteriorating in the ballot box, beat the victory by nine points – a victory that at the time seemed to cost Schumer the majority.
Then the Democrats picked up two stunning victories in Georgia, making the leader of Schumer majority. And since then, he has made no apparent effort to fix fences with Collins, despite her desire to play a productive role in two-party negotiations.
“If I were in his shoes, I would have acted differently and reached out to say, ‘Well, I tried to turn you off three times. It did not work. I hope we can still work together, ” Collins said.
Schumer on Wednesday did not want to repeat his comments about Collins from Tuesday night’s CNN interview. He would just say that the Democrats’ No. 1 job is to succeed on a big, daring agenda, and we will work with every Republican to do that. “He does not want to argue that criticism of Collins could jeopardize his prospects on the agenda.
Republicans said the damage had already been done.
“Dumb, dumb, dumb,” said Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), a former GOP whip who during the Trump years had the unenviable task of trying to persuade Collins to recall for things like Obamacare. “Sen. Collins is the most likely Republican to lead a dual negotiation. The reason you go out of your way to intentionally alienate her is dumb. ‘
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Schumer ‘did not want to make any point of concealing that he was directing fairly substantial campaign sources against’ Collins, a good friend. The two IDP centralists sit side by side on the Senate floor.
‘I would think she took it personally. And I think it’s a shame there is not a better relationship, ‘Murkowski added, who met privately with Schumer to work with him.
Some leaders focusing on the declining set of Senate moderates are nothing new. But these efforts have historically not helped the chamber overcome its biased roster. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell wanted to oust five centrist Democrats in 2018, although Sens Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) Survived. Manchin was not exactly a cheerleader of McConnell in the years that followed.
The Senate Democrats on Wednesday did not confirm Schumer’s target on Collins. Several people said they did not intend to get into the middle of the feud, but that the transition from difficult losses is a part of Senate life.
‘John McCain fought hard against me in 2012, and I finally worked with him now. It is part of the politics here, ”said sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Said.
While making it clear that he is not taking sides, Murphy said the path to 60 votes goes through the Maine senior senator: ‘If there is any hope of making things happen here in two parties, Susan will be instrumental. ‘
Although Democrats did not want to single out Collins in interviews Wednesday, they agree with Schumer’s general sentiment that chasing two parties has cost them effective legislation in the economic crisis.
‘Do I specifically think Susan made Collins? [the stimulus] too small? I do not choose one person. But it was insufficient for the task, and that’s why we did the bill we just did, ‘said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). “If there’s a Democrat in the oval office, Mitch does not want to encourage his team to work together.”
But Collins bothered Tuesday with Schumer’s recollection of their collaboration on the stimulus in 2009.
“President Biden thanked me for my vote when he was vice president at the time,” she said. So, for Senator Schumer to say now that it was a big mistake and try to blame me when he was in leadership and to help with the negotiations and voted in the same way, it’s bizarre. It does not make sense.”
So far, Collins has voted for all of Biden’s nominees, though she has announced opposition to the failed nomination of Neera Tanden to head his office of management and budget after Manchin announced he would vote no. Her courtship with Biden in the coronavirus package was unsuccessful, mainly because Republicans began their bid against a bill about one-third of where Biden was.
Democrats can only use reconciliation once again this year, and there are potential compromises with Collins on everything from the minimum wage to background checks to immigration. But that may not be going through Schumer.
“I know she chooses and chooses her causes. And I did not stop working with her at all, “said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
He chose not to respond to Schumer and Collins’ remarks about each other.