GOP poll says Reid vulnerable

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 11:11 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A GOP poll shows 48 percent of Nevada voters would support Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., over Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., in a race for Reid's Senate seat. But Reid's margin, 48 percent of the vote to Gibbons' 40 percent, shows that Reid would be vulnerable against Gibbons if the congressman decides to run in 2004, Republican officials said.

The poll was sponsored by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and conducted by the Moore Information Inc., a private firm with offices in Portland, Ore., and Washington. It surveyed 500 registered voters in Nevada by phone Jan. 22-25. It was the first poll the committee has taken, committee sources said.

The fact that Reid, the No. 2 Senate Democrat didn't receive 50 percent of the vote is telling, especially given that Reid has not won his Senate races with an overwhelming majority, committee spokesman Dan Allen said.

Republicans are going to make Reid a top target in 2004, Allen said.

"He's very vulnerable," Allen said.

Reid called Gibbons a "fine congressman" who would be a worthy opponent. But Reid dismissed the poll.

"I don't believe in polls," Reid said. "The Democrats and the Republicans have given polling a bad name because they jigger all the results and play with all the numbers."