U.S. Senator Durbin predicts Dems will keep the reins in Washington

    Illinois Senator Dick Durbin predicts the Democrats will keep control of the Senate next year. But, stumping in Pennsylvania for local candidates, he conceded there would have to be more cooperation to get things done.

    Campaigning in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Senate’s number two Democrat, Dick Durbin, predicted his party will maintain control of Congress’ upper chamber next year.

    The Illinois Democrat says he’s confident his party will keep its Senate majority, but he concedes Democrats will likely lose several seats.

    With a much narrower margin, Durbin says Republicans and Democrats will need to reach across the aisle, in order to pass bills.

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    “The issues are substantial,” he says. “Far and away the biggest issue is creating jobs in America. I mean, we’ve got to turn this economy around and put people back to work. Not only good for their families, but good for our nation, when it comes to the deficit. But secondly, when you take a look at the issues that we face, we still have to deal with the issue of clean energy jobs for our future.”

    Durbin was in Pennsylvania to campaign for Congressman Joe Sestak and several southeastern congressional candidates.

    He says Republican Pat Toomey is wrong to call for scaled back government spending, arguing Congress needs to keep passing job creation and infrastructure bills, in order to turn the economy around.

    Durbin says he won’t be Majority Leader next year, predicting a win by embattled Democrat Harry Reid, who’s facing a tough campaign in Nevada.

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