SC’s Graham reaches across aisle to praise Harry Reid for keeping Charleston port ‘alive’
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn remembered Harry Reid as a “giant” of a politician, whose tenure as Nevada’s veteran senator on Capitol Hill benefited the country at large.
His former Senate colleague, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, said Wednesday Reid was “passionate about his political causes” and thanked him for keeping South Carolina’s Port of Charleston “alive.”
Reid, who was Senate majority leader from 2007 to 2015 during two presidential administrations, died Tuesday after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former Majority Leader Harry Reid. He was a giant, whose years of determined service on behalf of the people of Nevada strengthened our entire nation,” tweeted Clyburn, D-Columbia. “I send my condolences to his family and loved ones during this time. May he Rest In Peace.”
The Nevada Independent, a statewide news and opinion website in Reid’s home state, described the late senator as a “savvy dealmaker and sometimes polarizing figure who made as many enemies as he did friends.”
“Soft-spoken with a sharp tongue, Reid compelled those around him to listen,” his obituary continued.
Reid is credited with elevating his state into a powerful decider of presidential nominees after he helped move Nevada to the front of the pack among early-voting states — behind New Hampshire and Iowa and right before South Carolina — and strengthening the state’s Democratic Party, obituaries for Reid noted.
For South Carolina, Graham said Wednesday Reid also had an impact.
“Harry was passionate about his political causes and would always try to help every Senator where he could for the benefit of their state,” Graham tweeted. “I will always appreciate Senator Reid’s help for keeping funding for the Port of Charleston alive at a critical time.”
He continued, “Harry worked hard, fought hard, & gave his all as Democratic leader and longtime senator for the state of Nevada. He earned the respect of his colleagues, had a notable legacy of accomplishments, and led a well-lived life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
President Joe Biden, who served in the Senate with Reid and was vice president when Congress passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010 — signature legislation for the Obama administration — said in a statement Reid was man of his word.
“If Harry said he would do something, he did it,” Biden said. “If he gave you his word, you could bank on it. That’s how he got things done for the good of the country for decades.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 12:50 PM.
