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Harry Reid Caught In The Downward Slide

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid from Nevada, may not be as powerful as the “Most Powerful Woman In The World” but he is one of the most powerful Democrats in their party. He is serving his fourth term in the senate and is hoping for re-election for his fifth, in 2010.

Reid will turn 70 years old on December 2 this year  and has served as a leader in the senate since 2005 when he became Senate Minority Leader where he served until the Democrats won the majority in 2006.  He gives the appearance of a mild mannered man but is reputed to change that appearance quite handily when he becomes angry.

As the congress in general has lost considerable credibility in the past year or so, Reid has also dropped in the polls, especially within the past several months. As the Republicans begin gearing up for next year’s election campaign, they already have two possible challengers for Reid and both are leading him in the polls.

 Many sports fans will recognize the name Jerry Tarkanian, the legendary basketball coach for the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.  His son, Danny Tarkanian, is currently the Republican challenger whose poll numbers show that he has the best chance of defeating Reid. A poll taken by the Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc. Shows an 11 percentage point advantage over Reid.

Danny Tarkanian is a Nevada real estate developer who has made two unsuccessful attempts at public office, once for Nevada Secretary of State and another for the state senate. Although there are a number of Republican heavyweight politicians in Nevada who might fare better than Tarkanian, most are hesitant to challenge the somewhat entrenched Reid. But, Tarkanian says that he is not intimidated by him.

Another possible challenger for Reid comes in the form of a beauty queen. The Nevada Republican chairwoman, Sue Lowden, also leads the current Senator by 5 percentage points according to the same poll. She won the Miss New Jersey title in 1973 and was second runner-up in the Miss America Pageant. Although she does not show the lead over Reid that Tarkanian does, she may prove to be the strongest challenger. Reportedly, she is highly regarded throughout the state and is thoroughly acquainted with the political system as well as being proficient in fundraising.

Spokespeople for Reid say they are not concerned that he is lagging in the polls. In fact, they contend that he has often shown up as being the underdog, but yet he wins. Eric Herzik, chairman of the political science department at the University of Nevada at Reno says that he always seems to have a very tight race but he just comes out fighting and winds up victorious. 

This coming election may prove to be unusually difficult. A last minute surge in the campaign may not be the solution as it has been in the past. Much will no doubt rest upon Reid’s handling of the present Healthcare Reform saga as well as the other controversial projects that loom before congress in the coming months. Instead of clinging to a strict party line, more attention to the pulse of the public may determine whether or not he is ready for retirement. 

» left by Nancy Daniels (2 years 167 days ago.)

Bravo! This was a great article Joel (now I know why you publish these goodies here -- a bit safer). Good research, good writing. I pray Reid's spokespeople are wrong in the next election and we can finally rid ourselves of this man.

 

Thanks for sharing,

 

Nancy

» left by Joel Hendon (2 years 162 days ago.)

Hi Nancy, thanks for your comment. I have better hope now than I have had, that the balance of power will swing back with the next two elections. But what a mess until another year and a half. 

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