The stunning and fierce revolt against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for backing down from Republicans in a shutdown battle is being magnified by the resounding silence from Democrats refusing to come to his defense.

In interview, the Senate minority leader said intraparty critics underestimated the dangers of a funding lapse.

Privately, many Senate Democrats conceded that their leader was doing his job by protecting his members from a tough vote and making a politically painful decision. But the backlash from his party was intense.