Chuck Schumer, Set to Lead Senate Dems, Courts Party's Left

As he prepares for the likelihood of succeeding Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, New York Sen. Charles Schumer is working to prove his liberal credentials in an attempt to appeal to the left of the party.

According to The Hill, Schumer has taken up a number of new positions in the last week, endorsing the expansion of Social Security and criticizing the 12-nation trade deal being negotiated by the Obama administration.

"I think it's notable how he's changed his tune in the last week," Neil Sroka, communications director for Democracy for America, a liberal advocacy group, told The Hill. "It clearly shows he's listening to the things that the progressive base is concerned about and perhaps changing his views on them as a result."

"It remains to be seen if he ends up being the leader of the Senate how responsive he'll be to the desires of the progressive base," he added.

Schumer has been criticized for his relationship with Wall Street in the past, and for his moderate views on taxes and foreign policy, for example.

Schumer appears almost certain to take the reins after Reid endorsed him and House Minority Whip Dick Durbin also threw his weight behind him.

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