Obama Praises Reid’s Career, Calls Him a ‘Fighter’
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Pete Souza / The White House(WASHINGTON) — President Obama praised Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s long career in the Senate on Friday, after the Nevada Democrat announced he will not seek re-election in 2016.
“Harry Reid is a fighter. In his five terms as a U.S. Senator, Harry has fought for good jobs, a safer environment for our kids, and affordable health care for all. He’s never backed down from a tough decision, or been afraid to choose what is right over what is easy,” Obama said in a statement.
“Time and time again, Harry stood up to special interests and made sure every one of his constituents had a voice in their nation’s capital,” the president added. “Above all else, Harry has fought for the people of his beloved state of Nevada.”
Reid, 75, suffered a serious eye injury while exercising earlier this year, causing him to reconsider whether he would seek re-election.
“This accident has caused Landra and me to have a little down time. I have had time to ponder and to think,” Reid said in a YouTube video announcing his decision. “We’ve got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the state of Nevada than about ourselves. And as a result of that I’m not going to run for re-election.”
Obama said he and the first lady wish Reid and his wife Landra “well in whatever the future holds.”
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