Political Buzz: Reid's Politically Calculating Move

When Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, D-NV, stated recently, 'I don't work for Barack Obama,' many assumed this was a signal that the incoming President would not have a rubber-stamp from Congress in spite of the fact that his own Party runs the place.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

You can bet your last Smith & Wesson that no matter what Democrats say publicly, Obama is going to have fairly smooth sailing when it comes to this Congress. All if not most of his Cabinet nominees will be approved quickly. He will get most of what he asks for with little opposition.

Reid's statement was politically calculating, period, end. Nothing more to it.

The Senator is going to be in the fight of his political life in 2010 as he faces re-election at a time when Congress' approval rating is in the single-digits and when his own approval rating in Nevada is dismal.

Nevada also went for George W. Bush both in 2000 and in 2004, despite its falling into the Obama column in 2008.

Just as Americans threw a tantrum and threw out many Republicans, they can just as easily turn against Democrats and Obama. And Reid has already seen signs that his constituents in Nevada may be getting ready to ditch their Senator who has presided over the single most unpopular Senate in U.S. history.

Reid also knows that publicly distancing himself from Obama may be good strategy come 2010.