Harry Reid: Nevada economy to turn around in 2010

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 | 1:19 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today he expects the Nevada economy to show signs of turnaround next year – just in time to boost voter mood as he campaigns for re-election.

“I feel that Nevada, like the rest of the states in the country, next year is going to see economic recovery,” Reid told reporters when asked about his political situation with low poll numbers in the state. “Once that takes place, I think there’s going to be a general good feeling all over the country, including Nevada.”

Reid was also asked about potential Republican challenger Danny Tarkanian, the former UNLV basketball player who is making the rounds in Washington today. Tarkanian met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky this morning and was meeting this afternoon with the campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“At last count there are 10 Republicans involved in that primary,” Reid said. “We’ll deal with Republicans when that’s necessary. Right now that’s not necessary. Right now I have a job to do for the people of the state of Nevada and the people of this country. I’m doing my very best to move this agenda along.”

Nevada’s unemployment rate is among the worst in the nation at 12.7 percent – higher in Las Vegas. Widespread job losses have been felt in the construction industry as the real estate and credit bubbles burst halting new construction, and in the service industry as visitors opted against gambling getaways during the recession.

“We all know that unemployment always lags behind economic recovery,” Reid noted. But he pointed to comments this morning from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke as hopeful, saying it “appears at this stage that the recession has bottomed out and that the change is taking place.”

Reid’s optimism is a bit at odds with the economic outlook offered by forecasters at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who said this summer they expect another two years before recovery.

UNLV’s Keith Schwer said last week that even as the national economy begins its expansion, the “severity of the current difficulties in the Silver State will surely continue as the job picture recovers slowly.”

Schwer noted that some indicators show that consumers’ future travel and entertainment spending may reset to lower levels than before the recession as belts stay tightened – which could mean a further drag on the tourism-dependent Las Vegas economy.

“The-all-important consumer will need to recover from the current recession before one might expect marked improvement in Nevada,” Schwer said.

Whether that will happen in time for Election Day remains to be seen.

Discussion: 18 comments so far…

By VegasSucks

9/15/09 at 1:38 p.m.

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Ah, what does Harry know..he's just a poor boy from Searchlight.
Really, what's he going to say-that it will be at least two or three years before Las Vegas sees a bit of a turnaround, and until then, we're going to keep going down.
This isn't news--it's a pep talk from our loyal Senator. Did Sig Rogich tell him to say this??
By jlb101

9/15/09 at 1:50 p.m.

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HA! HA! HA! That fool is as dumb a he looks.
By texexnv

9/15/09 at 1:54 p.m.

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Is this a warmup for his comedy act in some lizard lounge or WHAT?

The only GOOD numbers in NevaDUH are Reid's polls approaching Enstench and Goober.
By mrjb

9/15/09 at 2:04 p.m.

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Another example of a politician disconnected from reality.
By DessertSun

9/15/09 at 2:14 p.m.

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Harry Reid is sooooooo out-of-touch with reality! This guy just doesn't know when to shut up. Nevada deserves better than a Harry Reid. Tarkanian, we need you NOW!
By modem_express

9/15/09 at 2:36 p.m.

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This article is simply, "Wishful Thinking."
By Det__Munch

9/15/09 at 2:44 p.m.

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tell that to all the unemployed, Mr Senator, and to those who will be losing their benefits this month and to those who will lose their jobs wsithin the next 6 months (also known as "City Center Lays Off 5000 Employees - 'First Six Months Numbers Were Dismal' Execs Say")
By retiredyoungster

9/15/09 at 2:44 p.m.

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All he is doing is repeating what others keep "hoping for"..2010
By steve7952

9/15/09 at 2:54 p.m.

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I swear these political parasites have their own guidebook on 'Playing to the ignorance of the Voters". Vote them out!
By darthbry

9/15/09 at 3:30 p.m.

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So can we expect another refund based on the amount we paid for our car registrations in 2010? Sweet!!! (ha ha ha sarcasm abound!)
By neiman1

9/15/09 at 4:02 p.m.

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I never thought ole harry was drinking his own Kool Aid.
By jim-nevada

9/15/09 at 4:37 p.m.

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So Reid's vision is that we can expect our state's record unemployment to simply start dropping next year as jobs gradually become available in the thousands?

The future's sure bright for Nevada!
By afveteran

9/15/09 at 4:41 p.m.

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"Pinkie" Reid may be right. However, the economy here in Nevada will never be a booming one until the powers-that-be decide to change the employment culture, which today, sucks the purple shaft big time.
By lipton

9/15/09 at 5:46 p.m.

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so, what he's saying is he really could care less about the Nevada people just so long as "it boosts voters mood". "We'll deal with the republicans when necessary?" 'Its not necessary right now" what an egotistical, high horse, #%$#%#$%#$%.
By atdleft

9/15/09 at 6:08 p.m.

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Well, at least we have one Nevada Senator who cares about Nevadans. Where's Johnny Casino? I guess he's too busy cheating on his wife with another of his friend's wives.
By SgtRock

9/15/09 at 6:17 p.m.

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Reid is predicting that it will turn around on Nov 5th, 2010.

Just trust him....the "stimulus" (of which Nevada is near the bottom in per-capita funding) will kick in on that day.
By mikegino

9/15/09 at 8:21 p.m.

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They both need to go. Let's see which one is man enought to admit this reality.
By jlb101

9/15/09 at 8:28 p.m.

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Maybe Mr. Reid is right. The elections will be held in 2010 and he and a whole bunch of his Democrat loser friends will be removed from office. That will stimulate the economy more than anything else I could think of.

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