Projo Politics Blog

By John Mulligan
Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jack Reed has stepped out of the negotiations over the proposed package to rescue the financial system and plans to fly to Mississippi later today for the presidential debate between Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain.

Reed spokesman Chip Unruh said this morning that the Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, last night asked that the financial rescue talks proceed with a smaller cast of negotiators.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, is therefore representing senators of his party, while such supporting players as Reed moved to the sidelines, Unruh said.

He said, however, that Reed, a Banking Committee member, who has been active in the talks, will still confer through staff or by telephone if necessary.

Reed will join other Democratic colleagues to support Obama at the debate site in Oxford, Miss., even though it is not certain that the event will take place tonight.

"Sen. Reed thinks it's vitally important that the debate happen and that John McCain does show up," Unruh said. The Rhode Island Democrat was invited some days ago to attend the debate, which was originally planned as a forum for foreign policy discussions.

Reed, has been a foreign policy advisor to Obama and accompanied the candidate -- along with Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, of Nevada -- on trip to Afghanistan and Iraq in July. But Reed has not played any role in preparation for Obama's role in tonight's debate.

 Tags  bailout Barack Obama Christopher Dodd Jack Reed John McCain presidential debate Sen. Harry Reid

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