Collins did not like to be chosen in such a way. In an interview, she called Schumer’s comments an “extraordinary” blow to her most natural ally in the corridor. And she said there has been no contact with the Democratic leader since the election: “He didn’t speak to me, no”.
“Why Chuck seems to be struggling to remove the most bipartisan member of the Senate is a mystery to me,” said Collins. “And it should only reflect your extraordinary frustration at having wasted $ 100 million in the state of Maine in an attempt to defeat me. And for me to win by a strong margin. “
Collins maintains a good relationship with several Senate Democrats, despite the party’s campaign to defeat her last year. She has also made four calls to President Joe Biden since taking office and even organized Republican senators to attend what has become her first major meeting in the Oval Office.
But unless Senate Democrats manage to force a unilateral change in the rules to end legislative obstruction, Collins’ vote is also likely to become a prize sought by Schumer. She enjoyed a warmer relationship with her predecessor, former Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), But criticized Schumer’s handling of the minimum wage issue and his use of party reconciliation to pass coronavirus legislation.
Their fight started in earnest when Schumer decided to target Collins in a campaign that became extremely personal after all. The husbands of Collins and Democratic candidate Sara Gideon have been the target of negative announcements, and dispute spending has flooded Vacationland like no previous Senate dispute.
Still, there is no mystery as to why Schumer chose to play in Maine: it really looked like one of the Democrats’ best pick-up opportunities last fall. That was before Collins, despite losing in polls in the final stretch, to a nine-point victory – a victory that at the time seemed to have cost Schumer the majority.
Then, the Democrats won two impressive victories in the second round in Georgia, making Schumer the leader of the majority. And since then, he has made no apparent effort to fix the barriers with Collins, despite his desire to play a productive role in bipartisan negotiation.
“If I had been in his place, I would have acted differently and done the evangelism to say, ‘Well, I tried to take him down three times. Did not work. I hope we can still work together, ‘”said Collins.
Schumer declined on Wednesday to repeat his comments about Collins in Tuesday’s interview with CNN. He would just say the Democrats’ “no”. My job is to approve a big bold agenda and we will work with any Republican we can to do that. ”He would not address the notion that criticizing Collins could harm his prospects for execution on that agenda.
Republicans said the damage had already been done.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” said Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), a former Republican Party chief who, during the Trump years, had the unenviable task of trying to convince Collins to vote on things like repealing the Obamacare. “Sen. Collins is the Republican most likely to be involved in a bipartisan negotiation. Why would you go out of your way to intentionally alienate her is stupid. “
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Schumer “made no attempt to hide that he was directing very substantial campaign resources against” Collins, a close friend. The two Republican Party centrists sit side by side in the Senate floor.
“I imagine she took it personally. And I really think it’s a shame that there is no better relationship, “added Murkowski, who met privately with Schumer to discuss the joint work.
Party leaders targeting the ever-smaller set of Senate moderates is nothing new. But these efforts, historically, have not helped the chamber overcome its party stalemate. Senate Republican Party leader Mitch McConnell tried to expel five center Democrats in 2018, although Senators Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) Survived. Manchin was not exactly a McConnell cheerleader in the years that followed.
Notably, Senate Democrats did not agree with Schumer’s Collins targeting on Wednesday. Several said they had no intention of getting into the middle of the rivalry, but that moving forward with the tough defeats is part of the Senate’s life.
“John McCain came and campaigned strongly against me in 2012. And I ended up working with him. This is part of politics here, ”said Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
Making it clear that he is not taking sides, Murphy said the road to 60 votes goes through Maine’s senior senator: “If there is any hope of getting bipartisan things done here, Susan will be instrumental.”
Although Democrats refused to feature Collins in interviews on Wednesday, they agreed with Schumer’s general feeling that pursuing bipartisanship in the past had cost them effective legislation during the economic crisis.
“I think specifically that Susan Collins did [the stimulus] tiny? I am not highlighting any person. But it was inadequate for the task, which is why we did the project we just did, ”said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). “When there is a Democrat in the Oval Office, Mitch is not interested in encouraging his team to work together.”
Still, Collins questioned Schumer’s recollection on Tuesday of his joint work on the stimulus in 2009.
“President Biden thanked me for my vote” at the time, when he was serving as vice president, she said. “So for Senator Schumer now to say that this was a big mistake and to try to blame me, when he was in leadership and helping with the negotiations and voting in the same way, it’s bizarre. It makes no sense.”
So far, Collins has voted for all of Biden’s nominees, although she has announced opposition to Neera Tanden’s failed appointment to lead her Office of Administration and Budget after Manchin announced he would vote no. Her courtship with Biden in the coronavirus package was unsuccessful, largely because Republicans started their bid with a bill about a third of where Biden was.
Democrats can only use reconciliation once again this year, and there are potential commitments to be made to Collins in everything from the minimum wage to background checks and immigration. But it may not pass through Schumer.
“I know that she is choosing and choosing her causes. And I didn’t give up on working with her, ”said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
He chose not to respond to Schumer and Collins’ remarks about each other.