Jack Reed's Pennsylvania Connections

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed has been mentioned as a possible candidate to head the CIA ("Petraeus resignation could trigger Reed to CIA according to report," GoLocalProv, 11/10,)" .  While Reed has publicly said he intends to remain in the Senate ("Sen. Jack Reed not interested in CIA director job," by Josh Gerstein, Politico, 11/13), local RI news outlets continue to view him as a potential CIA director ("In EG, Sen. Reed hedges on CIA Job," by Elizabeth McNamara, Coventry Patch, 11/18).

Reed is a West Point graduate, served in the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper before going to law school and then into politics.  Should that sound a little familiar, the 82nd has a strong presence in Pennsylvania, and in Pennsylvania politics.  Former state representative Bryan Lentz (D-151) served in the 82nd, as did former congressman Patrick Murphy (D-08).

In fact, when Murphy first ran for congress in 2006, Reed supported his candidacy.  He even attended at least one of Murphy's early public campaign events.  It's a small world.