Liberals have high hopes that Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) promotion to Democratic leadership will give them more sway in the next Congress.
Under pressure to shake things up after a disastrous midterm election cycle, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) this week named Warren to an advisory role where she’ll serve as a liaison to groups on the left.
While Reid and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) will still have the reins on political strategy, Warren's appointment has been seen a sign that Democrats might move in a more populist direction.
Progressive groups say Democrats were too centrist during the disastrous midterm election cycle, and argue Warren’s fiery persona — the same one that has many liberals pleading for her to run for president in 2016 — is exactly the stance that Democrats should take when Republicans are in the majority.
Republicans are pleased with Warren’s promotion as well — but for a different reason.
They noted that the promotion comes just a week after voters demoted Democrats at the polls, rejecting a “fair shot” agenda that already emulated many of Warren’s ideas.
Republican strategist Ford O'Connell dismissed Warren’s new job as a "participation trophy" and questioned how Democrats would react if Republican leadership promoted a political firebrand on the right: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
"Democrats should fear that they could be playing with fire and giving rise to the Ted Cruz of the left," O'Connell said.
