WASHINGTON -- Charles Schumer may be New York's less-famous senator, but he managed to keep a hand -- or quote -- in almost every major congressional battle in 2005, expanding his role in national politics even as he trumpets local issues.

On Wednesday, the senator will complete his annual circuit of visits to all 62 counties in New York state. The appearance marks the end of his first year in a more powerful role and the beginning of a new year that will put him to the test.

Schumer is counting on his time-tested local approach to help Democratic Senate candidates around the country win votes in 2006, particularly in seven states, including Montana, where he believes Democrats can recapture Republican seats.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who talks with Schumer several times a day every day, said that despite the New Yorker's well-earned reputation as a prince of press clippings, he is more valuable to Democrats as a long-term strategist.

''I do think that his mania for the media is exaggerated,'' said Reid. ''Everyone jokes about it, but he has a very interesting view as to what you do and how it will be seen in the eyes of the public ... like a chess player thinking many moves ahead.''

Reid said Schumer steered his party through the last political battle in Congress this year -- a temporary renewal of the Patriot Act. Republicans had sought a permanent extension.

''I can say without any amount of puffing that no one was more responsible for our working out the Patriot Act to our satisfaction and to the benefit of the country than Schumer,'' said Reid.

From the television airways to congressional hallways, Schumer has become a dominant voice within his party on a host of other issues, ranging from free trade to Supreme Court vacancies to overhauling Social Security.

Not to mention energy policy. Or avian flu. Or even the use of umbilical cord blood to help those afflicted with blood diseases like leukemia.

All of that effort has slowed -- but not by much -- his local appearances in New York.

Schumer has made an annual ritual out of visiting every county in the state at least once a year.

Besides the local touch, Schumer has also proven a deft hand in fundraising.

He spent much of 2005 raising millions of dollars for Senate Democrats, and by the last reporting period the DSCC had double the cash on hand of their Republican counterpart.

Schumer said his party will need all that and more to win back some of the four seats they lost in 2004.

''If we can pick up two or three we'd be very happy,'' said Schumer.

Top on the senator's list are Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, and Arizona.

Longtime Missouri GOP strategist Lloyd Smith, who is a senior adviser to Sen. Jim Talent, scoffed at the notion his state might choose a Democrat next year over Talent.

''There's gonna be an attempt to nationalize this race by the Chuck Schumers and the Hillary Clintons, but ultimately the political singing senators from New York aren't going to play that well here,'' said Smith.