GOP senator: We can work with Schumer

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) says he is optimistic that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) could foster more cooperation in the Senate if he becomes the Democratic leader.

“I’ve had, you know, a good experience working with Chuck Schumer. I think he’s a guy who likes to get things done,” Thune said Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“He likes to make deals, and whether or not that changes when he becomes a leader remains to be seen, but I think he’s a guy that we can do business with.”

{mosads}Schumer appears to have locked down the support he needs to succeed retiring Sen. Harry Reid (R-Nev.) as the Democratic leader in 2016. Reid has served in Congress since 1983, holding the post of Democratic leader for 10 years.

His retirement has reportedly sparked a small scrap between Schumer and Reid’s current top deputy, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Politico reported on Tuesday that Durbin’s office said the two senators agreed on a power-sharing pact where Schumer would ascend to Democratic leader and Durbin would remain Democratic Whip. But Schumer’s spokesman said such a deal had never been made.

It’s a rare public dispute between the two lawmakers who used to share a home together, along with former Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and a rotating cast of other lawmakers.