VPR News: Leahy says he's running for a seventh term

Leahy says he's running for a seventh term

Wednesday, 06/24/09

Ross Sneyd

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AP Photo/Harry Hamburg

Sen. Patrick Leahy walks on Capitol Hill with Bruce Cohen, the chief legal counsel on the Judiciary Committee.

(Host) Senator Patrick Leahy has made it official that he intends to run for a seventh term next year.

As VPR's Ross Sneyd reports, Leahy has already served in the U-S Senate longer than any other Vermonter.

(Sneyd) There had been little doubt that Leahy would be on the ballot when his term is up in 2010.

He seemed to acknowledge that his decision was anticlimactic by the low-key way he announced his re-election.

Leahy's campaign sent out a fund-raising email titled "I'm Running," along with a link to a video of his announcement.

(Leahy) "I believe we can see an end to this economic crisis. But there's a lot left to do. And that's why I'm running for re-election to the United States Senate, to continue to work with President Obama to solve our problems, move our country ahead."

(Sneyd) Senator Leahy has been in the Senate since 1975, and is the only Vermont Democrat ever to hold the office.

Only the late Senator George Aiken, a Republican whom Leahy replaced 34 years ago, is close to serving as long.

If he wins re-election and Democrats retain control of the Senate, Leahy could be in line to become chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

He didn't address that possibility in his announcement. But he did say his seniority in the Senate benefits Vermont.

(Leahy) "I want to continue to use my experience and seniority to get things done for Vermont. And make sure that even though we're a small state, we have our voice heard. And if the people of Vermont give me another term in the U.S. Senate, I promise to keep fighting for the values that we Vermonters share."

(Sneyd) Not everyone thinks that length of service is a strength. Rob Roper is chairman of the Vermont Republican Party.

(Roper) "I think the fact that he's been there for 36 years has strengths. It also has its weaknesses. That means he hasn't lived in Vermont for 36 years. How can you expect somebody to represent the people of the state when that person has not really been here on the ground in a third of a century, over a third of a century?"

(Sneyd) Still, finding someone who will make that case in an election campaign is difficult. Roper says he's confident that a strong Republican will emerge to run against Leahy. So far, none has stepped forward.

For VPR News, I'm Ross Sneyd.