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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Sharron Angle gets a hug from volunteer Dudley Winn after delivering her concession speech at the Republicans’ election-night party early Wednesday at the Venetian.
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sun archives
- In defeat, Sharron Angle finds Nevada not the state she thought (11-5-2010)
- Despite loss, Sharron Angle says she’s still smiling (11-3-2010)
- Can infusion of cash buy an edge for Sharron Angle in Senate race? (10-14-2010)
- The blind hate that is financing Sharron Angle’s run (10-13-2010)
- Sharron Angle raises stunning $14 million in third quarter (10-12-2010)
- Deep-pocket Super PACs pumping cash into Nevada Senate race (10-10-2010)
Sharron Angle’s victory in the GOP Senate primary gave the former state legislator a Sarah Palin-like moment — she went from near obscurity to instant political celebrity. And she parlayed her status as The One Who Could Take Out Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid into a huge campaign war chest, racking up a storied $14 million to spend on her ultimately failed bid to unseat the Republican Party’s top target.
Unlike Palin, Angle didn’t dazzle on the campaign trail or manufacture a media persona. Yet while it’s unlikely we will see Angle undertake a rock star-style speaking tour, that doesn’t mean she won’t maintain a certain appeal nationally. She does, after all, hold a valuable asset — a list of nearly 200,000 small-donor conservatives, which could give her considerable political cachet in the next election cycle.
“Absolutely, I could see a national campaign wanting to access those donors,” Republican strategist Robert Uithoven said. “Not too long ago, raising $14 million in a quarter was big for a presidential campaign. Whether they would want to use her name as they communicate with those donors, I don’t know.”
That appears to be the crux of Angle’s future: Her most valuable commodity may not be her name.
Angle’s future in the political arena has been the subject of much speculation. And rightly so. Her improbable ascent in retrospect might not be so improbable. While not always successful, she has demonstrated an ability to read the shifting winds of conservative politics. First with pornography in Winnemucca and later with rising property taxes in Washoe County, Angle has had a knack for becoming the face of the conservative fight of the moment.
She has been running for office in Nevada since the early 1990s, coming within inches of significant electoral victories but repeatedly falling short.
As with past defeats, few expect her loss in the U.S. Senate race to drive her out of politics.
“Absolutely not,” said state Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Reno, who has long been an Angle ally in conservative fights. “She’s going to stay involved. She’s got the desire to make some changes. When you run for an office like that, you become well-known nationwide and a lot of possibilities open up to you.”
Gustavson said he doesn’t know what she will pursue next. “I can’t read her mind,” he said.
A spokesman for Angle said she wasn’t available for an interview for this story, and he didn’t respond to follow up questions about her plans.
Rather than open up opportunities of a lifetime, however, Angle’s brief time in the national spotlight may have done more damage to her image than good.
In 2008, Palin emerged from her failed campaign on the Republican presidential ticket not as the reason for the loss but the reason the race was suddenly infused with a conservative energy that the campaign of U.S. Sen. John McCain had lacked.
Angle, on the other hand, becomes known as the candidate who let Reid escape when conditions were ideal for Republicans to oust the Democratic leader.
“A lot of Republicans just are furious that they didn’t win Nevada,” said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report. “It was an easy target and they lost. And she’s the reason they didn’t win.”
When Angle stepped into the national spotlight, she also stepped into the ring with Reid, who had his own war chest to spend defining her as the scary, extreme candidate who couldn’t be trusted in office. After Reid’s $20 million effort, voters across the state are left with that impression of Angle.
“I think she’s damaged statewide, but that doesn’t mean she couldn’t win a Republican seat,” Uithoven said.
Many speculate she could challenge a weakened U.S. Sen. John Ensign in 2012, which might be difficult given her new reputation. Or, she could pursue the 2nd Congressional District seat if U.S. Rep. Dean Heller elects to run for higher office. Or, she could make another run for the state Legislature.
But then there’s that list of donors.
The true value of Angle’s donor list remains a bit of a mystery. She could create a political action committee to support her own brand of conservative candidates across the country, similar to Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Perhaps she could crown Gun Totin’ Grannies, like Palin has Mama Grizzlies. Or she could simply rent it out to presidential contenders who stumped for her in the closing days of the race.
If she plays it right, Angle’s list could allow her to avoid dealing with her image problems and become a behind-the-scenes money broker of the conservative movement.
Considering how much of her cash came from out of state, failed extremist Sharron Angle should have seen the writing on the wall.
Nevada has rejected her again and again and again. We didn't want her in the state Senate, we didn't want her in the House of Representatives and we didn't want her in the Senate.
Expect her to announce her candidacy for the Presidency in 2012.
Sort of a non-story I think. Even with access to this list, what out-of-towner would give her money again because (a) she lost an unloseable race in their eyes and (b) she likely won't be running against the devil (Harry to those donors) again. She rose, she sputtered, she's irrelevant. For ever and ever, amen.
I agree with VegasFan. In the murky, weird and strange inexplicable world of politics, those lists had some value. At one time. But now the election is over, what does she have? What does she offer? What would keep those same people contributing money for her and her causes after losing?
I say that list has evaporated. Those people have moved on. Because they know now that Sharron Angle lost...and she lost badly...in a race that everyone thinks she was assured victory in...well....at least in a Tea Party person's head.
I guess what I'm saying is that, to compare the Republican base of Sharron Angle's with anyone else's base, from whatever party, is entirely different. This Tea Party crowd is flighty. They change with the wind. I would say those contributors evacuated her and went over to someone who won or who is already elected and in power. Like Rand Paul or Jim DeMint or something.
Sharron Angle's brand was vaporized by her loss to Senator Reid. And her contributors moved on. They will probably sympathize with her, but if she were to call a rally, none of them would come, nor would they contribute money.
She's just not in the limelight anymore. She has nothing to offer. And these contributors all have noticed that she has said many things that the voters have rejected. Either because there was no substance to them and/or they were views that were way over the top.
Sharron Angle could probably work as a political commentator for Fox News or something. She's got the smile. She's got the one sided agenda view. She's got somewhat of a gift of gab.
But political clout and power? No. Even if the lists she has are still valid, it don't equate to clout and power and influential to any voters.
The TeaHeads actually gave Angle $14 million, what suckers..
:-)
That list is worthless to Sharron Angle.
Those people were NOT donating to "Sharron Angle, Senate Candidate"; they were Rabid Righties who "Hate Harry", exhorted to send dough to "Defeat Socialism!"
What, you thought they were enamored of complete craziness???
"They", all 200,000 of them, have NO CLUE what they almost wrought.
The New Era of Internet Fundraising, and the ability to raise endless amounts of Corporate Cash, is an awful, awful POX on our political landscape.
The abject HORROR of 24-7/365 campaigning via "internet donations" & PAC DOUGH has brought the dawn of Supersized Stupidity to American Politics....
An endless stream of hot dog crap, made up by Advertising Agencies & "expert" consultants like R&R Partners, direct to your eyes & ears via radio, tv, internet, twitter, email, snail mail, telephone, cell phone, flyers, billboards, yard signs, and door-knockers.
And, for all that, we STILL have a "less than informed" electorate, because it's 95 percent B.S.; MOST POLITICAL ADVERTISING IS FALSE...intended to dissuade rather than persuade.
Sell the list, Sharron.
It's worth it's weight in FOOL'S GOLD to whomever wants to run for Ensign's seat from the right... I'd call the Chicken Lady & Hobo Heller; maybe get a bidding war going...
but they'll be buying a junk list; with no Harry Reid to run against, those 200,000 "donors" will not be moved to part with their beer money.
I fear that Nevada has launched its own version of the Sarah Palin political celebutard. I wish her well as a Fox "news" talking head.
I'm not so sure that out-of-state-donaters will be so free with the money to fund her against a -not-Harry-Reid. And, with a Democratic candidate with low negatives, her high negatives will crush her. It's time for Sharron to retire from politics and live off her husband's [evil] FEDERAL pension, and use her free [evil] FERDERALly paid-for medical insurance.
Or, she and her husband could renounce the [evil] money they live off, and get a "real" job in the private sector. There might be an opening in MacDonalds or Burger King-- but she won't be able to run away from the customers at will and expect to get paid.
Whose crazier -- pyscho Sharron or anyone willing to give her more money?
Her fifteen minutes of fame cost more per second than TV ads during the Superbowl and it was just as entertaining.
Thanks for the laughs, baggers.
Point well taken "gmage39" the season of craziness is upon us because of the undisclosed corporate funding to campaigns like Sharron Angle's. Sharron Angle donors where against Harry Reid, not in support of Sharron Angle. Three fourth's (3/4) of the donors mentioned are no longer available to them because Sharron Angle has shown she is extreme on the social issues and out of touch with how to carry out stratgey in a close election. Her past has shown she is not a candidate you can back for long term support from the party base on a state or nation level.
"The Republicans lost their standards, they've lost their principles, They have never really gone along with lower taxes and less government."
--Nevada GOP Senate nominee Sharron Angle, oct,2010
:-)
I am listening to Mike Pence R, Ind., on ABC. The Rightwing is still here. He may not sound as bizarre as Angle, but the message is the same. Trickle down economics is alive and well. Despite everything they are saying, they want to savage the middle class and advantage the wealthy.
Our left of center Liberal Democrat commenters don't waste any time jumping on the LV SUN'S band wagon this morning.
I suppose we will be told about how bad Angle was for the next two years. Just like we heard about George Bush for two years after the 2008 election.
Poor things don't want to think about all of the Democrat loses across the country.
It's just Harry and Barry there guys...
Something to remember is that many of the people on that donor list where not paying to support Ms. Angle, they where paying for the chance to beat Mr. Reid.
Now that she is not the tool they had at the time to take out Mr. Reid they will have no use or desire to be connected to Ms. Angle.
Most of her money came from out of state, those people did not and don't care about Nevada, they where playing the "Take Out Reid" game.
Her list does not have the value some may believe.
She's lost the Ensign seat to Sue Lowden? Not if we Democrats have a vote. Lowden was rejected by Republicans in the primary for good reason. She is only marginally better than Angle, and the Democrats will defeat her, handily.
Just like Dina Titus defeated Joe Heck?
Just like Brian Sandoval defeated Little Harry?
Everyone in Nevada knows that Reid does not 'win' an election. He has his goons do lots of arm twisting and buying ...... even brings in the illegals and the homeless living underground and pays them to vote for him.
Soon Nevadans are going to see what a mistake they made in electing Dirty Harry..... keep a close eye on you wallet, Nevada!!
Sharron Angle is finished with politics, and politics are finished with her...
If Angles decides to run for Ensign's seat, all the mistakes she made this time will come back to haunt her like yesterday's Halloween. She has tried and failed many more times than she has ever won anything. Some people just never learn.
The Angle website and Twitter account have had zero activity since moments before the polls closed.
Its fascinating that a woman claimed to be so 'grass roots' and claimed to rely so much on the help of others has not even offered a single word of thanks to the thousands that donated time and money to her campaign.
I guess losing shows your true colors...what a truly ungrateful woman.
It was never about Sharron Angle. It was about getting rid of Reid...
Yeh, sure. Those suckers are just chomping at the bit to drop more money down the rathole that is Sharron Mangle.
The Reid victory was perfect in every way. Let the Baggers think they can win, let them drop millions, then rip their hearts out.
But the best part of the victory is that it left the Baggers thinking that it was close.
Nothing better than a sucker screaming, "Double or nothing!"
This is just an attempt by the LV SUN to make Sharron Angle more than what she is.
To diminish Sharron Angle is to diminish Harry Reid.
How could have Harry Reid beat the crazy, radical extremist Angle by less than 6%...
gbigs/Lady gogo/Larry wrote:
"It was never about Sharron Angle. It was about getting rid of Reid..."
Teabaggers don't give a damn about this state or the nation. They're extreme ideologists much like the terrorist who are willing to tear anything apart to gain power and influence.
Poor Larry & Mary...
Still licking their wounds.
In his new book, Bush says that he thinks Palin cost McCain the election. Most McCain supporters have been saying this for the last two years on the quiet, but now that Palin is actually talking about a run for the Presidency, the GOP establishment is beginning to state the obvious: she is an imbecile, or as Morton Kondracke of Fox put it the other day, she is a "joke."
"The landslide victory by Sen Reid despite illegal attempts by the GOP and their operatives to suppress the vote shows Sharon Mangle is a hasbeen."
That's a good one there Crazo...
The message by Nevada voters was loud and
clear--NO CRAZY TEABAGGERS WANTED.
AND-----
Rory Reid will take John Ensign's seat.
"Rory Reid will take John Ensign's seat."
That's the only useful information out of > 3500 postings of yours teamster.
"angle has shown that she doesnt handle reality well, but she DID get 46% of the vote, which means a lot of people supported her crazy ideas."
Which means she isn't going to disappear dipstick.
While world-wide Stimulus Package got positive review generally, why is the D.S alone critical of it ?
1. Audacity of Nope extracted exceedingly low possible jobless rate compared with the extremely critical market situation, while D.S. economy was held hostage by Audacity of Nope, and time was running out.
Prior to the full recovery, the Stimulus Package was all about Lehman Brothers or not of D.S. economy.
2. Last year, Warren buffet warmed in an interview with NBC that the D.S. economy was in free fall. Plus, tragically, the Japan economic leader committed suicide before the strong export report, last year.
As we know, blocking Free Fall From Cliff requires multiple efforts.
3. Global austerity policy dealt a harsh blow to the burgeoning economic activity. By ruling out this critical factor, Power-only party of objection for objection & Almost Dead Media led Independents to Fuel reps Gains.
4. As a groundwork, the Stimulus Package alone can't complete a perfect building. Sadly, extension of oil wars displaced Energy Independence or A Jobs law, empowering the war party and leaving healthcare law near demise before survival. Accordingly, the Stimulus Package lost momentum creating Synergy.
5. The most efficient deficit-cut way of government would be slashing the destructive war & military waste.
Slashing the destructive war & military waste alone supposedly could be enough to balance the budget.
Regrettably. opponents are instead critical of sound investments. ( Depression : New Deal = Great Recession : Stimulus Package (Groundwork) )
6. I think Corrupt Money & Almost Dead Media led Independents to Fuel the no idea' Gains. That explains why Moneycracy & Money-driven media call for urgent overhaul.
7. Amid Massive Lay-off Panic, Change & Healthcare for all, After Stimulus Package, Opposition from lots of the Ungrateful.
Taking advantage of benefits from Stimulus Package, Corrupt Money & Almost Dead Media & Power-only party turned U.S. into D.S.
8. Over the duration of healthcare debate, using the preliminary cost analysis of CBO, the reps opposed the public option stubbornly, but
after the release of final score, they have been defiant on the referee.
"Teabaggers don't give a damn about this state or the nation. They're extreme ideologists much like the terrorist who are willing to tear anything apart to gain power and influence."
Some Liberals must not believe in free speech, freedom of assembly or equal rights...
"The landslide victory by Sen Reid..." says TonyCrazo...
I guess one can call anything a landslide...
All those out of state donors aren't her friends, they just wanted to get their hands on Yucca and knew she was the best bet.
"The landslide victory by Sen Reid..." says TonyCrazo...
I guess one can call anything a landslide, but Harry Reid's victory was more like a mudslide...
Sharron Angle had the mudslide.
Yeah, now Sharon's "ardent" supporters aren't so ardent.