DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION:

Reid’s role may signal a subtle lowering of profile

Shift could help him with reelection bid

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Sun Expanded Coverage: Winning the West

Sen. Harry Reid

This time, rural Nevada isn't looking so red on its face (8-24-2008)
Reid: Obama doesn't need cowboy hat, boots (8-21-2008)

Denver — On any given day in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is a popular man.

Reporters swarm him, surrounding his small frame and holding recorders high to capture his comments. They walk with him until the last possible moment, stopping only when he steps behind the door to his office or onto the Senate floor, places off-limits to journalists.

Those moments are likely to be few in Denver.

Denver apparently marks the beginning of a new Reid era, his slow return to a behind-the-scenes role as Congress’ consummate deal maker.

Reid’s first appearance at the convention was by video opening night. He won’t get to the convention until today and he likely won’t be heard from again until a news conference Wednesday, followed by a prime-time speech that evening.

Reid ascended to national attention when he became majority leader following the 2006 election, which put Democrats in control of Congress. With the White House in Republican hands, Reid became the nation’s top Democrat. He often said he would continue in that role until the party chose its presidential nominee — as it does this week.

Reid has shown little desire to assert himself here beyond his prime-time speaking slot, a news conference and his few fundraisers. No hosting of flashy parties, no mastering of ceremonies.

As always, he doesn’t seem to mind House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s ability to capture more attention.

Reid’s office said the majority leader has all the attention he wants. “His profile is pretty high,” spokesman Jon Summers said.

Here is something else to consider. As Reid prepares for his reelection bid in 2010, the lower profile could help cool his image back home, as the National Journal suggested over the weekend.

As top Democrat, Reid was decidedly partisan in 2007 and his approval rating in Nevada dipped to 32 percent in October, according to a poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It hadclimbed back to 46 percent in the latest poll.

Reid’s focus this week is on helping Democratic hopeful Barack Obama win in Nevada and other Western states that could decide the election.

His talk Wednesday will be on energy, an issue dear to Nevada. The state is trying to decide whether to allow construction of more coal-fired power plants. It also continues to oppose creation of a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain — a plan Obama opposes but Republican candidate John McCain supports.

Aside from that, Reid appears content to recede and let this week belong to Obama. He knows he will continue to face attacks as Republicans seek to dislodge him in 2010 in what would be an enormous political trophy.

Perhaps he is becoming the new old Reid, doing what he does in his quiet way, out of the range of so many arrows.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By neiman1

8/26/08 at 3:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

Don't worry Harry. We wont forget. We wont let you shift the blame for the $4.50 gas price nor the slow down in everything in Las Vegas. We know your closing Congress to prevent losing the vote on drilling is the most dangerous thing that has happened to this country, its economy, and its security in decades. We wont forget harry
By peterclarke

8/26/08 at 7:03 a.m.

Suggest removal

Thanks to Reid and Pelosi for their slogan of ACTION, which turned into a year of STEROIDAL INACTION.

The people in Nevada and throughout America will conintue to remember that what Americans need is to get off purchasing foreign oil asap and start drilling for new oil along with using all their own new sources of energy now. Because Every 1 year of delay in drilling for USA oil=10 more years dependency on foreign oil, which =20 more years of fighting foreign radical Islamic terrorists paid for by our continued purchase of $700 billion per year in foreign oil.

Keep smiling.....
By Future2012

8/26/08 at 12:29 p.m.

Suggest removal

Sick, Sick, Sick Harry is already yesterday's new.

Harry Reid's antagonistic approach and never ending personal attacks preclude reasoned governing.

This is a problem that the Democrats will have to address in the next Congress.
By jfnance32

8/26/08 at 1:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

What has Reid accomplished from a Democratic point of view?

He allowed two very conservative judges on the Supreme court.

If I was a Democrat then I would demand that Hillary replace him as majority leader.

He has done nothing for Nevada.

Yucca still gets funded despite the fact that Democrats control both the house and the senate. Sure, he gets it cut after the Pelosi's house fully funds it. What a con game that is!!!

Nevada is ranked on the bottom of list when it comes to Federal dollars for k-12 education. What is up that?

I think he cares more about MoveOn.org than Nevada.

His family are busy beavers in DC. They make millions each year as lobbyists.

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