Credit: (Senate Television via AP)Eyes in the U.S. Senate chamber and beyond were fixed on Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) as he set the record for the longest speech in the body’s history this week, standing and holding the Senate floor for more than a day.
Booker’s display drew tens of millions of clicks and views online and, according to his office, an outpouring of public support.
“This seemed like the right thing to do, and from what my staff is telling me a lot of people watched,” Booker told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday night, his voice hoarse. “A lot of us have to do a lot more, including myself.”
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers from the House filtered into the Senate chamber for the senior New Jersey senator’s performance, listening quietly and checking their watches and phones before he broke the record.
