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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Harry Reid
Sun Archives
- Is Harry Reid moderate on health care, or keeping powder dry for final fight? (10-4-2009)
- Attacks on Harry Reid have mixed messages (10-1-2009)
- Report: Harry Reid's poor approval rating leaves race a 'toss up' (9-10-2009)
- Back home, Harry Reid more concerned about catching mice than polls (9-5-2009)
- Home state finds it hard to warm up to Reid (8-30-2009)
- After the event, Reid's GOP rival has 5 questions (8-29-2009)
- Poll: Either GOP challenger could topple Harry Reid (8-23-2009)
Sun Coverage
National Republicans, having so far failed to recruit a blue-chip challenger to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid next year, face the prospect of a long — and potentially divisive — primary in which any one of a handful of candidates could clinch the nomination.
Partisan strategists and operatives say that degree of uncertainty is highly unusual for such a high-profile race, costing the party valuable time it could otherwise use to groom a candidate for what promises to be the most expensive, hard-fought campaign in the country. Reid has said he expects to raise $25 million.
That said, recent public opinion polls suggest the eventual nominee could beat Reid. The senator has a 37 percent approval rating.
To be sure, this was not the scenario Republicans envisioned when they set out to topple the Senate majority leader. They had been hoping for a repeat of 2004, when the party successfully ran South Dakota’s lone congressman, John Thune, against Reid’s predecessor as majority leader, Sen. Tom Daschle.
Republicans, looking for a well-known name, courted Nevada Rep. Dean Heller — and then former Rep. Jon Porter.
Both took a pass.
A third candidate, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, fell off the list when he was indicted for allegedly mismanaging a college savings program while serving as Nevada state treasurer. Krolicki has denied any wrongdoing, saying the charges were politically motivated.
Republicans were dealt another blow when Sig Rogich, the longtime GOP operative with decades of experience in national politics, endorsed Reid, becoming co-chairman of a group the senator’s campaign calls “Republicans for Reid.”
That series of events ultimately led Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden to resign and enter the race herself this month, joining a crowded field. Among those encouraging Lowden to run: Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party and the GOP consultant who ran Thune’s campaign against Daschle.
Nevada Republicans argue that a spirited primary could be just the thing to reinvigorate a sluggish base after last year’s devastating losses. President Barack Obama won Nevada by 12 percentage points and Democrats won a House seat and retook the state Senate, giving them control of both chambers of the Legislature for the first time in two decades.
Meanwhile, the party’s chief elected officials have been marginalized. Gov. Jim Gibbons is burdened by an embarrassing divorce and a civil lawsuit filed by a Las Vegas cocktail waitress who claims he assaulted her in a parking garage. Sen. John Ensign is embroiled in scandal stemming from his behavior in the wake of an affair with the wife of then-top aide Doug Hampton. The Senate Ethics Committee and the FBI are investigating whether Ensign’s efforts to mollify Hampton with lobbying work violated federal law.
As one Republican operative put it: “We’re starting to make Louisiana look good.”
But party officials say the GOP is poised to capitalize on the public outrage over government bailouts and the Obama administration’s health care plan.
“There was a good deal of disappointment and concern about the fact that we did so poorly in the last cycle,” said former Gov. Bob List, a Republican national committeeman. “But now the party is totally fired up. People are revving their engines and preparing to go to war politically based on what’s happening back in Washington.”
The ultimate beneficiary in a Republican primary is unclear. Political scientists and party strategists, including Steve Wark and Ryan Erwin, say a few candidates have strengths and could pull from different sectors of the Republican base. Also, the number of votes needed to win in a contested primary will be relatively small, given that public interest is lower in non-presidential years. (In the 2006 primaries, nearly 288,000 Nevadans voted statewide, representing 30 percent of all registered voters.)
In 2010, experts see as many as five credible contenders.
Motivating core activists or a running a slick mail campaign could mean a win. And, operatives say, the competing campaigns could create a patchwork of field organizations, something the party desperately needs after Sen. John McCain ran an underwhelming presidential campaign in the state last year.
Lowden has name recognition as a former local TV reporter, anchorwoman and state senator and benefits from her political connections as state party chairwoman. She and her husband are wealthy casino owners who netted $150 million more than a decade ago when they sold the Sahara.
In an interview last week, Lowden declined to say how much of her money she would be willing to spend, saying she had attracted considerable contributions over the past month. Still, she added: “It’s nice to have that cushion.”
She polled roughly even with Reid in an August poll.
Danny Tarkanian is banking in part on his family name. His father, Jerry, is UNLV’s legendary former basketball coach. His mother, Lois, is a Las Vegas councilwoman. Tarkanian himself is a former UNLV basketball star and lawyer who runs a real estate business here. He’s the only candidate who has run a statewide race, coming up short in a bid three years ago to become Nevada secretary of state.
In that same August poll, Tarkanian led Reid by 11 points.
He said a successful defamation lawsuit stemming from a previous failed state Senate run has given him a degree of protection from future attacks, putting to rest fraud allegations that dogged him in 2006.
Former state Sen. Mark Amodei has the longest legislative record of anyone running. He represented Carson City in the state Senate since 1999 before being forced out by term limits this year.
As former president of the Nevada Mining Association, he has deep ties to one of the state’s wealthiest industries — but his work for the group has prompted conflict of interest charges because he held the post while serving in the Legislature.
His vote for one of the state’s largest tax increases in 2003 will likely be used against him by his primary opponents, some of whom have signed anti-tax pledges. Amodei said he countered a proposed gross-receipts tax that year with his own tax plan after talking to a number of stakeholders, including the Nevada Taxpayers Association. He ultimately approved the governor’s budget.
“We thought it was important to be in the mix of discussions,” Amodei said. “Those people who would condemn me for daring to have an idea, I simple disagree with that analysis. I’m an open-minded guy who is not afraid to vote to get the policy right.”
Sharron Angle, a former four-term assemblywoman from Reno, remains popular with northern and rural conservatives. In 2006, Angle, with the support of the national group Club for Growth, nearly beat Dean Heller in the Republican primary for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, losing by 421 votes. Last year, she mounted a similar primary challenge, nearly knocking off longtime state Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio. She lost by 548 votes.
Republican operatives say about half of the votes in the party’s primaries traditionally come from outside Clark County.
John Chachas is an Ely native and banker who brings big money to the race. He says he’s raised $343,000 from donors and contributed $1 million of his own money to his campaign. Although he has lived in New York for most of his adult life, he maintains a home in Ely and vacations there. As an advisory banker, he’s given financial advice to media companies and says that Wall Street experience positions him to better understand the country’s crises, from the deficit to housing to health care.
“I’m putting my money where my mouth is,” Chachas said. “I feel passionately that this is a pinnacle moment in American political life. This race is terribly important for the country. If we get this wrong, the consequences could be monumental.”
The eventual winner is assured millions of dollars in national money, but will also face arguments for Reid’s reelection from Republicans.
“I think it would be deadly wrong for us to turn out the leadership we have in Congress now when our state is in such critical need of assistance,” said Rogich, a former adviser to President George H.W. Bush. “Nevadans have to ask themselves, do ... we want someone with a say in every major committee or do we want someone at the bottom of the ladder who has nothing to say?”
UNR political scientist Eric Herzik said Reid can be beaten, but it won’t be as easy as some early polls have suggested.
“It’s easy to run a hypothetical candidate,” he said. “It becomes harder when that candidate has to explain issues, answer questions and respond to the attacks that come.”
look at all those stupid pathetic republican liars...
maggots, maggots everywhere...
don't worry harry...
vegas loves you baby...
and we are ready to squash us some maggots!!!
A spirited Republican Primary will reinvigorate a sluggish base? Not when it's a Republican love-fest. All the others will fall in line behind Lowden like the mindless drones they are. Expect low Republican turnout to the polls...
palin wanna be's here
Last year Obama and Hillary ran a long campaign with allowed Democrats to badmouth McCain.
So a long primary where the inept activities of Harry Reid can be exposed by five people is okay.
Sue Lowden was impressive in her debut with Ralston on face to face. She is articulate, challenging, great demeanor and attractive.
She has experience, has command of conservative values, and would be a competent challenger to Reid. She would not be drawn in to Ralston's obsessed disdain for Ensign and Gibbons. She knows what to say, and how to say it. I like her.
Why does it have to be a Republican? They're just as corrupt as as the Dems. Wake up America! It doesn't have to be "Lessor of two evils". Explore the Independants etc. You only throw your vote away if you don't vote with your conscience.
Just a pulse...that's all I require to vote NO4Harry!
Haha. Herzik is right, except that I doubt any of the GOP "circus clown candidates" has what it takes to topple Reid. Lowden is hated by her own base, drove the state GOP into the ground, and still lies about her support for Yucca Mountain. Lil' Tark Shark, OTOH, is so empty headed that he openly admits he likes storing toxic waste at Yucca Mountain and that he wants Johnny Casino to campaign with him!
The other "candidates" are just small side shows. Angle is the ideal (read: EXTRA CRAZY!) GOP candidate, but she hasn't even proven she can win a primary. Amodei's just too boring and almost rational in a primary full of crazies. Oh, and what the heck is Chachas doing running in Nevada? Ummm, he's now a New Yorker!
And since Sig Rogich already knows who the winner is, he's making the smart bet... On Reid.
baby-tark was on a local hate-talk station with Sarah Palin's parents (on the bug-killer show)
Talk about scrapping the bottom of the barrel.
Gee, an oily wall street banker mantains a double wide in Ely and he has ties to Nevada? Oh, and he is going to use his own money to buy the election? Where has he voted in the last 15 years? Nevada or NY?
and of course, Louddung supports breast cancer
We need a Democrat to challenge Harry Reid.
If you read Chachas' campaign page at http://www.chachasfornevada.com/bio.html..., he states:
"He went on to receive his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a Masters degree from Harvard Business School. In his 23- year business career, John has earned a reputation as a smart, straight-shooting problem solver. John is considered one of the Country's leading authorities on the newspaper publishing and broadcasting industries. As a managing director at Lazard Freres & Co., John and his partners lead the firm's efforts in helping successful media companies grow as well as assisting boards and management teams in turning around troubled businesses. John has assisted some of the nation's largest media concerns in various roles, including The Walt Disney Company, Hearst Corporation, and Clear Channel Communications, among others. He has given restructuring advice to numerous publishers, including The Tribune Company, The Journal Register Company, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune."
On Page 46 of the 2008 Annual Report of the Council on Foreign Relations is a list of Corporate Members. Lazard is listed in the PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE, the second highest contributor to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Sophisticated observers recognize Chachas as a member of the INSIDER clique that runs the country from behind the scenes.
If Republican Chachas were to replace Reid, Nevada Republicans would once again be disappointed.
The more things change the more they will stay the same.
Can you connect the dots?
That's ok, when Rush Limbaugh comes to town next January he can annoint someone.
I wonder who Dingo and Neil Bush are supporting?
Anybody but harry. And while were at it we might as well include harrys idiot son rory as well. I see no point in letting that moron getting anywhere near the governors mansion.
Lowden has donated heavily to Reid's campaign in the past. Please, no more RINOs. No wonder the republican party is in such a mess in Nevada!!
You know, I liked Reid until he started supporting the train to nowhere. He needs to go.
Lots of name-calling by the Reid supporters here. In a public forum -- especially in a public forum -- comments like those from "Birdiedreamin" reveal more about you and tell us you don't really know how to argue your case. Anyone can engage in namecalling. It takes self-control and a sharp intellect to argue points without demeaning others, and to prove that you're an adult.
I don't know bout the rest of you but Sue Lowden is HOT!
Once again Ralston and Company want to ignore GOP Senate candidates who are legal and are getting attention from Republican groups. Funny Chachas didn't bother showing up to the National Federation of Republican women's candidate forum, maybe he is not serious about running. I guess because he is a millionaire he qualifies to be on Ralston's show. I can just see the Teamsters lining up for his campaign.
Well after I, Mike Wiley spoke, I was invited by three Republican groups to speak. I must have said something right, huh Johnnie Boy.
Maybe it's because as a former conservative Democrat and the son and grandson of teamsters, I could actually win this thing after I take out the chosen Republican wealthy and whiney in my primary, none of whom have had to deal with the Far Left lunatics like I in a US Senate race.
Maybe because I did so well in the last US Senate race I ran in, in 1994, that you want to ignore me. Funny the Clinton White House didn't ignore me, when they tried to buy me out of the race or when they had me taken off the air on Boston radio a year later.
You liberals are all a like, 2 and 2 is five and he did not have sex with that women. Why don't you lefties try the truth once and a while and put people on who speak it. What are you afraid of?
Good grief, Sue Lowden is an old lady, old enough to be my grandmother! Do not fixate on ladies old enough to be your parents, guys!
I want to see Nina R. and Sue lowden in playboy together.
Reid will not be reelected this go round. Reid has shown his true colors and we're sick of him selling Nevada down the highway. Reid is lair and a person without any substance that kowtows to welfare blood sucking lazy people. The infamous 2.2 billion to rebuild America's Highways equated to 200 million for what they sold the bill of goods and the other 2 billion is being spent on social programs and other worthless spending programs that don't create jobs.
The entire Democratic Party is nothing but a bunch of liars, thieves, heathens, and criminals that are destroying America's constitution and America. They'll stop at nothing to further their agenda so that America becomes is a cesspool of people that is codependent to the government.
Anybody but a liberal will work providing they do the job they were sent there to do, for the people.
Hey, Mike Wiley, are you running next year against Harry Reid? Who are you? You ran in 1994? Where, here in Nevada? You think anyone with a brain cell is going to give you the time of day after reading your bitter diatribe? Are you a conspiracy theorist, just paranoid or simply mentally ill? You sound like a nut case in your post! BTW, Teamsters do not endorse Republicans. Seek mental health help, soon, and stay out of politics, we don't need any more nutty republic (sic, thanks Ensign) senators in Washington D.C. I don't like Harry Reid but if it's a choice between him and someone like you, I'll vote Reid. I just wish the Senate would remove him as Majority Leader. In that position, he's worthless, but you sound simply crazy.