Schumer will help his party boost PR

WASHINGTON — Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., will be the chairman of a new party organization aimed at improving Senate Democrats' public relations.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry M. Reid, D-Nev., told lawmakers about the plan Monday, ahead of a weekly meeting of Senate Democrats today at the Capitol.

In a memo to colleagues, Mr. Reid cited the work the Senate faces on the economy — an area in which Democrats failed to convince voters they are leading.

"I have given serious thought to how our caucus can best address this and the many other challenges our country will face in the next two years and beyond. If I am fortunate enough to serve again as your Leader, one of my first priorities will be to strengthen our strategic operations," Mr. Reid wrote.

"To do so, we must better integrate our legislative and message-crafting functions into a central, coordinated nucleus managing policy, press and politics. That starts with uniting the Democratic Policy Committee and the Senate Democratic Communications Center into a joint operation."

In his memo, Mr. Reid said he asked Senator Schumer, "whose communications abilities and tactical skills we all greatly respect, to lead this effort as chairman of the new office."