This kinda negates the idea that Reid is in league with the Clintons

Dems planned to exclude Clinton from press conference on bill she introduced

Senate Democratic leadership yesterday planned to exclude Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) from a news conference promoting legislation she introduced until just hours before the event, according to today's Roll Call.

Just prior to the event, according to Roll Call, a Clinton aide could be seen yelling at an aide to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), among other things, "you suck."
Excerpts from the Roll Call story follow:

Sources say Clinton looked “visibly upset” at the news conference. (Paging Ken Mehlman; didn’t you label Clinton the “angry” candidate?) She did not stay for the duration of the question-and-answer session.

Whatever thoughts she or her staff may have expressed to Democratic leaders and their aides before the event, Reid did introduce Clinton and single her out as being “on top of this issue.”

“And I think it would have been really unfair not to have her here today,” Reid said, “as she has had the vision to look down the road on this issue before some of the others.”

One reporter who attended the news conference described Reid’s comments as “a little weird” and “out of context.”

In April, Clinton and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced a bill linking pay raises to the minimum wage, but it didn't generate much interest until the House voted for the hikes June 13.

In a bit of backstage drama, Reid and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) scheduled a press availability on the issue yesterday afternoon without informing Clinton, much to the consternation of her staff, according to people familiar with the situation. The news conference was hastily rescheduled, and Clinton was invited - although she stayed only long enough to deliver a one-minute statement.

"Several months ago it became clear that this Congress, which will not put the needs of the people first, was more than willing to put their own needs first," Clinton said.