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Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, left, Sen. John Ensign, center, and Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, right, listen to a speaker during the dedication of the Clark County Shooting Park at the north end of Decatur Boulevard Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009.
Sun Archives
- Back home, Harry Reid more concerned about catching mice than polls (9-5-2009)
- Hundreds rally against Harry Reid, proposed health care reform (8-31-2009)
- Home state finds it hard to warm up to Reid (8-30-2009)
- Meet Brian Sandoval: Candidate for governor? (8-30-2009)
- After the event, Reid's GOP rival has 5 questions (8-29-2009)
- Building Trades council endorses Rory Reid for governor (6-8-2009)
Sun Coverage
Sun Blogs
According to sources close to Sen. Harry Reid’s campaign, the gubernatorial ambitions of son Rory Reid, the Clark County Commission chairman, have emerged as a point of considerable hand wringing among advisers who view it as an obstacle to the U.S. Senate majority leader’s reelection.
Expecting Sen. Reid to face a tight reelection race, his advisers see Rory Reid’s presence on the 2010 ballot, in the cold calculus of political campaigns, as one in a series of preelection risks. It’s a view that some are spreading throughout Nevada political circles.
Polling shows Sen. Reid trailing his Republican challengers. His favorability rating, by one count, is 37 percent.
The reasoning behind the concern: Voters don’t like dynasties. Besides, advisers say, recent polling has Rory Reid trailing possible Democratic opponents in the race for governor by double digits.
Not surprisingly, the talk rankles Rory Reid’s camp, which sees the senator’s unpopularity as a potential drag on its candidate.
Political observers agree the son faces the greater danger.
“The argument is: Like father, like son,” said Jennifer Duffy, a senior analyst at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington. “Voters may project their feelings about Harry Reid onto Rory Reid, and with that comes those problematic polling numbers.”
Indeed, Rory Reid’s campaign plans to make clear to the rest of the state what Clark County political insiders already know: He’s his own man.
In 2002, he ran for a County Commission seat against the wishes of his father, who considered the chamber a political graveyard. Five years later, as Nevada prepared for its first-ever early presidential caucus, Reid gave his father a political headache by taking the chairmanship of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Sen. Reid had pledged to remain neutral in the contest — and his son’s endorsement risked being seen as a pass-through nod from the Senate majority leader. The move created problems for Sen. Reid in Washington, where he had to assure the three other Democratic senators in the race that he was, in fact, keeping his powder dry.
By most accounts, father and son have a close relationship, talking often but keeping the conversation focused on family. After joining the Clinton campaign, Rory Reid explained the dynamic this way: “I don’t tell him what to do in Washington, and he doesn’t tell me what to do in Nevada.”
In an interview, Rory Reid recounted a recent conversation with his father, saying the senator was more interested in the 3 1/2-pound trout his grandchild caught on a fishing trip to Utah than he was in any potential dynasty effect in 2010.
Billy Vassiliadis, a longtime friend of Harry Reid’s and consultant to the senator’s campaigns, said the elder Reid is proud of his son’s political accomplishments and respects Rory Reid’s independence.
“He views Rory as a man who has to make his own decisions,” Vassiliadis said. “Like any dad, he doesn’t want to be viewed as someone who is potentially hindering his son. But the senator is preparing for his campaign, and his adult son, who he loves and respects, needs to make his own decisions.”
Sen. Reid dismissed perceptions of a dynasty outright Thursday at a union rally in downtown Las Vegas. He told reporters, “Anyone concerned about a Reid dynasty should visit Searchlight,” the tiny Southern Nevada town where Sen. Reid grew up.
But sources close to the senator’s campaign say the issue, as one meeting participant put it, is “gnawing” at the campaign. And advisers are befuddled over how to address it, for fear of angering Sen. Reid.
Brandon Hall, Sen. Reid’s campaign manager, acknowledged the discussions but insisted the two campaigns maintain cordial relations. “We have a good relationship,” he said. “There are discussions on how to deal with (the ballot) issue, but there is no tension between the two camps.”
Duffy said political dynasties are a mixed bag.
In Missouri, for instance, the Carnahans are the ruling family. In 2000, Gov. Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash while campaigning for the U.S. Senate, but won election posthumously. His wife, Jean, was appointed to the seat. His son, Russ, is a congressman. His daughter, Robin, is Missouri’s secretary of state and running for Senate.
In Ohio, on the other hand, a family name has backfired. When Pat DeWine, a Republican county commissioner in Cincinnati, aimed for a congressional seat in 2005, his defeat was widely attributed to backlash against his father, then-Sen. Mike DeWine. The senator angered his Republican base when he joined a group of lawmakers who allowed Democrats to retain filibuster power in exchange for a full Senate vote on three Bush judicial appointees.
In Nevada, Sen. Reid’s advisers worry that the electorate will have little tolerance for political dynasties in the age of Obama. Voters, they say, might see Rory Reid’s run as an extension of Sen. Reid’s political machine, which remade the state Democratic Party into an electoral juggernaut in the past few years.
None of this concerns Rory Reid. He’s got $3 million in the bank and he’s running.
“Ultimately, voters aren’t going to make choices based on a candidate’s genealogy,” he said. “People will make a decision based on who has the best qualifications and the best vision for the future.”
Months ago, when Rory Reid told his father that he planned to run for governor and thus appear on the same November ballot, it was hardly a movie moment.
“It wasn’t that dramatic,” Rory Reid said. “It was just a father and son talking about their futures ... I’m nearly 50 years old and this is what I’m doing. I think he respects that.”
Harry Reid recently called his son to express solidarity: “Well, we jumped off the cliff together. Let’s hold hands.”
Sun reporter David McGrath Schwartz contributed to this story.
The Reid's think they are the Kennedy's of the West. What a joke.
The Voters will determine how right or how wrong this article is. Personally, I'd suggest to both Reid's that they find a real job.
One Reid for Nevada is one too many. I can't comprehend how bad 2 would be.
Let's vote Harry out first, then Rory won't matter much.
It sucks that Rory gets a bad rap just because of his last name. He's been good to Clark County. He hasn't been exactly like his father.
If this were a fair world, both Harry and Rory wouldn't have a problem running next year. But because it isn't, Harry will work extra hard to win reelection (and he WILL win next year!) and Barbara Buckley will probably see the new poll numbers as an opening to officially jump in the Governor's race (not that that's necessarily bad, I also like her).
Bush times three
Wow, that's all we need, two "Reids". One is bad enough. Perhaps we should change the name of our website to aBadReid(s).com
Bad Reid
Bad Senator
http://aBadReid.com
Judge Sandoval will clean Ichabod's clock in the worst mismatch ever seen in this state.
Up north here, being a CC Commissioner and not even having held a seat in the Legislature is two strikes against him. The 3rd strike is the name he carries as Boss Reid is UNIVERSALLY despised in the N and rurals.
At 50 years old being County Commissioner and nead of the NV Dem Party is his greatest achievements? Pitiful when you stop to think about it....
And I LOVE the comarison to the Kennedys and Bushes. The only difference is that Joe Kennedy, Sr. earned his wealth more HONESTLY than Boss Reid by being a LEGITIMATE rum runner instead of swapping votes for land deals.
Sandoval is Nevada's Sarah Palin. He couldn't cut it in the District courts so he's quitting to go back to the minors.
He'll govern about as effectively as well.
It is interesting to read the comments regarding both Reids. My contact with Rory's personnel was very positive. When I had a complaint that I referred to Rory he responded and made sure I was taken care of. This shows someone who responds to someone here in Clark county. I guess when it was the Kennedy's or the Bush empire it was okay. I don't see the Reids as being a dynasty. They are professionals and they have different agendas. Voters should look at the persons beliefs and accomplishments. Also how they will help Nevadans. It seems to me being open minded is a problem with too many people today. Oh and I still vote for the person not the party. I will not let a party dictate to me. I make my own decisions. Of course that is my opinion and I could be wrong.
They reflect a Nevada that doesn't exist anymore.
Sort of Judge Roy Bean...ish.
I disagree with this assessment. I will NEVER vote for Harry, but I could be persuaded to vote for Rory. I think he's done a fairly good job as a commissioner, so I could see him as governor. Depends upon who the opponent is, but I wouldn't rule out voting for Rory. Harry? NO FRIGGIN' WAY.
Harry Reid recently called his son to express solidarity: "Well, we jumped off the cliff together. Let's hold hands." My favorite line of the whole piece. We have had enough of the Reid's in Nevada.
I'm support Harry as the Senate Majority Leader and Senior Senator from Nevada - and I'd like to see Rory NOT run and stay where he's at as the Chair of the Clark County Commissioners BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP "COWBOY TOM" COLLINS UNDER CONTROL!
It is a shame that many people have a difficult time distinguishing father and son. Generally the same people that claim they 'vote for the person not the party' contradict themselves by not giving Rory a chance because of his family. Truth be told Rory has been a good commissioner and would likely be a fine governor.
Compare the reids to the kennedys? It can be done.Both families had there own agendas.But when truth be known,there are both crookied families,and both are bad for the country!!! If it comes out that both Rory,and Harry win there elections,NV will become there playground,and the people who live here will be there pawns!I really feel sorry for the Nevadens,if this comes to pass!Let the wolves in the hen house,and you ll have chicken for dinner everynight!
Now the Reids think they can practice nepotism in the state of Nevada. What gall! I hope the voters are smart enough to send them both packing.
Harry has still not confronted Obama for his "Don't go to Vegas" remark.
Let's make sure the Reids join the 13.5% unemployed.
Who would vote for governor a guy named RORY? it rhythms with nothing cept Cory and TORY