From what I'm reading, it appears that Reid had a rough meeting so he threw some bones to help remain leader of Senate Democrats
Democratic losses in 2014 made it clear that the voters want change—not just in their individual members, but in the way that the Democratic caucus operates, both Manchin and McCaskill said. "We've all had to make changes in our offices and had some difficult decisions to make," Manchin told reporters. "It can't be personal. Harry Reid's a good man. I just felt—and I was very up-front and forward with everybody—I just felt we needed a leadership change."
Democratic detractors did not have an alternative choice for leader. Manchin said he had asked Reid to delay the election for one week so that they could come up with a standard-bearer, but his request was ignored. "This type of an election, this type of a monumental switch needs time," Manchin said after the vote. "And we should discuss it and debate it. Harry could've made his pitch. If someone else would have come forward, we could have had her pitch."
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And the inclusion of Tester and Warren into the leadership could help to mend some of the frayed relationships between Reid's current team and the rest of a diverse caucus.
On the Left, Warren's appointment could ease some fears among liberals in the caucus, which will soon be forced to take a vote on the Keystone pipeline. Several members on the Left, including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, said that they did not blame Reid for allowing the vote, acknowledging that the bill would come up for a vote sooner or later given the new Republican majority.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/after-calls-for-his-ouster-reid-adds-new-leaders-to-mend-fences-20141113
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