Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998 | 1:49 a.m.
A race already peppered with brutal television advertisements is about to get nastier as Rep. John Ensign finally gets to face off against Sen. Harry Reid.
Ensign, the two-term congressional Republican from Las Vegas, earned his shot at Democrat Reid's seat Tuesday by obliterating Dr. Ralph W. Stephens of Reno in the GOP primary by an 8-to-1 margin. Stephens, with virtually no campaign money, was given no chance of beating the well-financed congressman.
Ensign's tiff with Reid in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election will be one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Republicans, who hold a 55-45 advantage in the Senate, need to pick up five more seats to gain a filibuster-proof majority. The GOP rates Reid as one of the five most vulnerable Democrats.
Reid, who is seeking his third six-year term, is touting himself as a veteran with considerable clout among Democratic senators. He is painting Ensign as a rookie who would cost Nevada seniority.
Ensign ads have already accused Reid of voting to raise taxes when the senator approved the 1993 federal budget. But Reid and fellow Democrats have said that budget is one of the major reasons the nation has enjoyed a strong economy.
The two candidates are equally divided on the issue of managed health care reform.
Combined they have already spent $5.4 million, $3.7 million of which came from Reid. The senator also has about $1.3 million cash on hand, compared to about $600,000 for Ensign. Both are expected to continue spending heavily on television over the next two months.
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