Reid predicts long run as majority leader

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid predicted he'll lead the body for years, saying Nevada voters will give the Democrat a fifth term in Washington.

Responding to Republican critics as well as to Democratic Party hopefuls who'd like to replace him, Reid told Wednesday's issue of the Washington publication Politico that he'll be in the Senate until 2015 and beyond, predicting he'll serve as leader for "at least for six more years."

Acknowledging he'll challenged in his home state when his current term expires in 2010, Reid told Politico he's actually looking forward to being considered a "vulnerable" incumbent.

"You know, to be honest with you, I hope I am," he said. "That way, (the Republicans are) going to spend lots of resources on me and leave states we're looking at. They won't have as many resources -- and we have a lot of targets."

Reid also said Congress won't be "rubber stamps" for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, and declared Democrat Al Franken as the unequivocal winner of the Minnesota U.S. Senate recount against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.

Reid said Wednesday the deliberate pace in resolving Roland Burris's appointment to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat is required because of the controversy surrounding embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who made the appointment.

"We know that there's been a lot of issues raised as to why we held this up. Well, it's obvious: We have a man who was arrested for trying to sell the office," Reid said after a meeting with Burris.

He said Burris has been "candid and forthright" regarding the circumstances leading to his appointment.