Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has joined an effort to push Hillary Clinton to the left on certain progressive policies just days before she is expected to announce a presidential campaign.
The initiative, organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) and dubbed “Ready for Boldness,” urges Clinton, the presumed frontrunner for the nomination, and other Democrats who might run for president in 2016, to adopt policies like expanding Social Security benefits, making college debt-free, and breaking up big banks. The effort is aimed not at opposing Clinton, but pushing her to adopt a “big, bold, economic populist ideas” agenda.
Related: Iowa and New Hampshire Dems to Clinton: Be more like Warren
Democratic leaders in Iowa and New Hampshire already signed on to the effort last month, and the group is releasing a new batch of endorsers Tuesday. The PCCC now say they have more than 5,000 Democratic leaders across the country on board, including Reid and 23 other current or former members of Congress, along with a slew of state lawmakers, labor officials and local leaders. “Being bold is the only way I’ve ever known how to win,” said Reid, who recently announced he is not seeking another term after 2016.
Reid privately urged then-Sen. Barack Obama to challenge Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2008, but has been supportive of Clinton this time around.
Also joining Tuesday is former Sen. Ted Kaufman, one of the closest advisors to Vice President Joe Biden, who is also considering a 2016 presidential bid.
Alex Seitz-Wald