With February 5th becoming the new moment of truth in the Democratic presidential race, one constituency stands to suffer from neglect by Clinton and Obama: the senate.
Senators will return to work on January 22 -- while the candidates are still jockeying for position in South Carolina -- with two contentious bills to take up, the first on climate change and the second on judicial oversight of the Bush administration's spying program. Both are almost certain to face filibusters, the climate bill from Republicans who don't want caps on emissions (as well as liberals who may consider the bill too weak) and the spying bill from Chris Dodd. who should have ample time to lead a challenge now that he's dropped out of the presidential race.
One suspects that Democratic senators are not counting on Clinton and Obama to make it to many votes between now and February 5 ... or should we say, between now and the summer convention?
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