Scoop: Schatz notches 10th whip endorsement
Why it matters: Support is coalescing around Schatz for the gig while other potential candidates are publicly staying out of the race.
Baldwin is the 10th Senate Democrat to endorse Schatz since he announced his bid in April.
Between the lines: Baldwin, a woman representing a Midwest state, is the type of Democrat who might have been likely to support Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Min.) for whip if Klobuchar entered the race.
But Klobuchar, at least publicly, has remained on the sidelines so far.
She said in April that it was a "mistake" for Democrats to focus on the race to replace Durbin over a year out from the election.
The big picture: Schatz, meanwhile, has been growing his support among Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) top lieutenants. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) — who, along with Baldwin, is a member of Schumer's leadership roster — has also endorsed Schatz.
Booker and Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nv.) and Mark Kelly (D-Az.) are part of an internal whip team working to help Schatz win the nomination.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the current Senate Democratic whip, is retiring next year.
Schatz also serves as Durbin's chief deputy whip this Congress, a subtle change that caught the eye of Senate insiders earlier this year.
What they're saying: "Brian listens to his colleagues, knows how to build consensus, and gets that to deliver for working families, our caucus needs to be united," Baldwin said of Schatz in a statement to Axios.
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