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Las Vegas Sun file
State Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, has endorsed Harry Reid in the U.S. Senate race, putting him at odds with some of his colleagues.
Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sharron Angle
Harry Reid
Sun Coverage
Sun archives
- Heller: Harry Reid’s defeat might not be good for Nevada (10-29-2010)
- Prominent Republicans coming out in support of Harry Reid (10-24-2010)
- NV GOP chief says Raggio endorsement threatens his leadership post; refuses to say he’d support Ensign in 2012 (10-8-2010)
- Republican leader Bill Raggio endorses Harry Reid (10-7-2010)
- Raggio: I’m with Reid, against Angle because she’s so extreme, but still against Obama’s agenda (10-7-2010)
The first test of whether Republicans will heal the divide highlighted by the U.S. Senate race will come quickly after Tuesday’s election, when the state Senate GOPers choose a leader.
Sen. Bill Raggio, leader of the Republican caucus since 1977 and an institution in Carson City politics, endorsed Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It prompted calls from conservatives, the Clark County and Nevada Republican Party chairmen and others for a new GOP leader in the state’s upper house.
The Nevada GOP has had a simmering, and at times glaring, split — with establishment Republicans and moderates such as Raggio on one side and more anti-tax, libertarian-leaning members on the other.
The U.S. Senate race, and in particular former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle’s candidacy, has widened that divide, particularly for a number of prominent members of the GOP who joined the “Republicans for Reid.”
A poll of Republican state senators and contenders in competitive districts suggests the caucus is split on whether Raggio should be forgiven and allowed to continue leading them.
Five said they support Raggio or think his leadership is inevitable, although most say they disagree with his Reid endorsement. Another three, when contacted, wouldn’t answer that question. And two candidates didn’t return calls for comment.
There likely will be between seven and 10 Republicans in the 21-seat state Senate, depending on the outcome of Tuesday’s election.
Raggio, first elected in 1972, and who turned 84 on Saturday, said he wasn’t concerned with questions about who will lead the caucus. He said he was instead focused on getting control of the state Senate. He was, of course, curious about how the votes broke down.
Some Republicans who talked to the Las Vegas Sun said they support the longtime leader.
Besides Raggio, the group includes Assemblyman Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, who’s running for state Senate; Ben Kieckhefer, a former spokesman for Gov. Jim Gibbons running for a seat in Reno; and Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, who has also publicly backed Reid and is not up for re-election.
Assemblyman James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, who is running for the Carson City Senate seat, is seen as a swing vote. He was disappointed Raggio endorsed Reid, whose political action committees “have given money against me every time I’ve run.”
“I don’t know what will pan out,” he said when asked who will be the next Republican leader. “I imagine he (Raggio) will still be the leader ... He knows how to navigate the political process ... I don’t see anyone with that ability to step forward.”
Others said they wouldn’t discuss their choice until after the election.
“I’m not going to go there,” said Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas. “I’m not even elected again yet.”
She added: “I’m sorry he chose to endorse Harry Reid. That’s not who I’m supporting.”
A more conservative member of the caucus and consistent dissenter on taxes, Cegavske is mentioned as an alternative to Raggio, along with Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon.
Among those who also declined to address who’d they support for caucus leader (and thus possible votes against Raggio):
• Assemblyman Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, a close ally of Angle’s in the Assembly who is running for state Senate.
• McGinness, who was “disappointed” by Raggio’s endorsement but won’t decide whom to support until after the election.
Elizabeth Halseth and Michael Roberson did not return calls for comment.
Halseth is running to replace Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, whom she defeated in the primary. Raggio and the Senate caucus supported Nolan against her.
Roberson, a Las Vegas attorney recruited by the party to challenge Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, D-Henderson, is seen as another swing vote.
Republican Party Chairman Mark Amodei, who resigned from the state Senate this year, said Raggio’s endorsement has put his leadership post in jeopardy.
“It’s going to create an interesting caucus meeting the Thursday after the election,” he said. “I just don’t know how you do that, support a Republican who supported Reid without the voters asking what the hell you’re doing.”
Sun Capital Bureau Chief Cy Ryan contributed to this story.
If the Wingnut Faction of the Republican Party of Nevada decides to "punish" Raggio for endorsing Harry Reid, they will be exercising their constitutional right to bite off their noses to spite their faces;
an activity that is very popular amongst the populace hereabouts these days.
I can't agree with Senator Harry Reid more :
We're creating green jobs. Jobs that can never be outsourced. Jobs that will make Nevada the leader in producing and exporting renewable energy. There is simply nowhere better in the world to generate solar energy than right here in Nevada. Now we have to turn that energy into jobs."
There is a part of the Republican party that stands up for what it believes and people like the Ragman should be beware.
There is no equalivant in the Democrat Party.
Reid did not push hard for single payer or even for the public option. Democrats don't care.
Reid support Nevada's ban on gay marriage. Democrats don't care.
Reid supports mining companies and places his thumb on environmental concerns. Democrats don't care.
Reid supports gun rights. Democrats don't care.
Reid supports drug/big pharm concerns and in return big pharma runs TV runs in support of Reid. Democrats don't care.
Reid is big supporter of Israel and even led the charge to defend Israel in that boat killing deal. Democrats don't care.
Reid made illegal immigration reform a low priority in this pass session of Congress.
Democrats will vote for anything and they get shocked when that "anything" just ignores them in office.
Democrats are suckers and just puppets that are easily used.
Raggio is the poster boy of why we need term limits. Other then them dying in office, such as KKK leader Robert Byrd, it's the only way to get rid of many of them, on both sides of the aisle. As for Reid defending Israel in the ship boarding, SgtRock, with the exception of that incident, they all went peacefully. In this case, the soldiers were ambushed by a surprise, prepared & vicious attack. Want the blockade ended? Tell Hamas to quit firing rockets into Israel, exercise control over its residents & begin to act like a civilized, a responsible goverment. Then hash out the differences at a conference table. It's just that easy.
In the case of Raggio supporting Reid. The old wrinkled up Republican gas bag supporting the old wrinkled up Democratic gas bag. Just another example of support for mercy killing. Why would you put any credence in what Raggio says. He is suffering from terminal brain damage.
@Rock: The Dems are not suckers. What they are is pragmatic enough to realize that there is room for dissenting views in a party and that the bigger the tent the better. Since 1993, the Reps have gone further and further to the right, litmus testing their candidates and constituants for ideological purity.
This is why the Republican Party lost my registration and my vote. If you're content to be part of a smaller and smaller tent, one which stifles disagreement on any issue, then you're welcome to the natural outcome of that. Take Colorado as an example.
Any politician who would endorse Harry Reid - is no Republican, no constitutionalist, no one who loves America or Americans...and needs to be ousted himself.
I can't believe that these 2 candidates are the best that Nevada can come up with. One is a nut and the other belongs to a cult. Come on Nevada, their are better people out there.
DefendUrRights says, ' no one who loves America or Americans would endorse Reid'. ow sick you are to honestly believe that. Win or lose on Tuesday, the votes for Reid are every much as "American" as yours!
srsd300- Sharron Angle is for life, or pro-life, what's so nutty about that? 99% of innocent babies are being killed in the womb because a women decided to have sex, the other 1% is from incest,rape, or medicial reasons. Sharron Angle addressed the 99%, Why kill these innocent babies? The crap about her wanting to get rid of social security, the va, or medicare- are taken totally out of context. Why don't you go to her website and read all of what is said about those issues. She proved that she is level and focused when she kicked Senator Reids butt during that debate. Sharron Angle will do just fine, she cares about this country, and this state.
Sharron Angle does not have the support of much of Nevada's GOP establishment.
Which means Republicans like me will not vote for Sharron Angle.
*Dips Teabag into hot water*
I like the way that the Demo told President Obamo to shelve his endorsement.in house fighting goes on in both parties.
Sen. Bill Raggio, leader of the Republican caucus since 1977 needs to go before 2011...
hsr, If "green jobs" can't be outsourced, who were the Guatemalans' that were working on the Solar Project outside Boulder City last year?
If you lost your home due to foreclosure, are currently unemployed and trying to find another job, a victim of crime, frustrated that you live in the dumbest city in America, AND you voted for REID, you have NO ONE to blame but yourself and forfeit your right to complain as you HAD a chance to fix the problem and threw it away! http://aBadReid.com
Goodbye Mr. Raggio. You chose political expediency over the voters and your own party. You are done. Perhaps you should consider a run as an independent like the guy in Florida. That really worked out for him.
Hope Harry is going to buy you a nice parting gift. We are all looking for a Rail so we can give you a lift out of town.
The corruption in this state has no party lines...they both should be turned out of office...
I think the Republicans should appoint a younger person who can bring all of the factions of the party together. There are some good people out there.
"may", there is no may about it, he is out.
Some old guys do not not when to leave and go home.
Green jobs?? If there are any green energy jobs they will be temporary!! After the windmills and solar panels are in place and working they will require a minimal amount of maintenance. Anyone who thinks this will solve our energy problem is pipedreaming.
RINO Raggio (Mr. Tax N Spender) has been on my negative list for a very long time. He is finally revealing his true colors. He is a democrat in a Halloween Costume.
I realize people in Nevada are frustrated with the direction of the country. I realize unemployment is bad. I realize that there are even some racists in Nevada and they cannot stand the fact that a black man is living in the Whitehouse and he's not the Butler. I get it, I really do but".Come on"Sharron Angle? If I were a Tea party member, born to a 4th generation KKK family I could not bring myself to support anybody who is this ignorant and crazy. Her thinking can best be described as "disjointed". She is a 24 hour a day/seven days a week menopausal hot flash!
Raggio will survive this and remember he's not running for re-election in '12, so what if he's not returned to his leadership post? It'll be the Senate Republicans who lose, as he's the only one with the tricks up his sleeve to muester clout where their is none. The purity and clensing process the Rebublican Party is going thru here and nationally will dilute their ability to get anything done... but wait, they don't want to get anything done,,, they just want to vote NO on everyone elses stuff. So Sad!
You know who else endorsed Harry Reid? The GOP executives of the gaming industry. Are Nevada GOP's going to "punish" the people that usually give them contributions for supporting Reid?
Perhaps these executives will instead support their opponents. When Angle loses, and when we realize what a bullet we all dodged, all of Angle's supporters will be severely punished in 2012 and further elections.
"...there are even some racists in Nevada and they cannot stand the fact that a black man is living in the Whitehouse..."
Really, Mr hampton? Race bating this morning?
"...Tea party member, born to a 4th generation KKK family..."
More race bating from Mr hampton.
"She is a 24 hour a day/seven days a week menopausal hot flash!"
Not only does Mr hampton appears to be a racist, he also appears to be a sexist...
All of the big money dealers in Nevada are supporting Harry Reid. The Unions, Casinos and the news media are all behind Harry Reid.
The only group that is behind Sharron Angle are the voters.
dhampton..If you bring race into this conversation one more time I will join you. It won't be pretty. I have some strong feelings about that subject.
Those were el Salvadorans. Bush expanded visas for those types of "imagrunt" ("I'm a grunt" - get it?) workers. Remember Bush "family values don't start at the border."
The Republicans have now turned there bigotry to LDS members, in addition to "Mexicans," Islamics, and union people.
Las Vegas Review Journal columnist, Wayne Alan Root, said "Reid was a member of the Mormon Mafia."
(2:44 PM 10/15/2010 on the "Jerry Doyle Show" heard locally on KDWN 720 AM radio, A Beasley Broadcasting Station)
Republican's For Reid are like Founding Fathers For Benedict Arnold. No matter, we are painting this state red in spite of the spineless opportunists that want to keep their gravy trains flowing...
Cut the budget, cut the government, restore the ecomony.
Dippy says that most of you don't understand how politics works in this country.
I am glad that Dippy is so smart and wise.
The man knows how politics works. Nevada gets clout with Sen. Reid. Angle will have no power or clout as a freshman senator. Nevada gets kicked to the bottom of the pile and Yucca Mountain is glowing bright green!
VOTE: Harry REID! Vote for what's best for Nevada.
One Senator, one vote...
Raggio has a right to his opinion, and shouldn't face any backlash to his decision. I don't agree with him but I respect his right to his opinion even though I feel he is making his stance for reasons we aren't talking about. This is what makes this country what it is; freedom of expression.
Bill Raggio has been the leader of the Republican caucus since 1977. He needs to step down and let someone more loyal to the Republican Party take over...
I'm casting my vote FOR my children and grand children.
And, AGAINST
Obscene and Crippling DEBT
Socialism and Communism
Intrusive Government
Abusive Taxation
Arrogance of corrupt incumbent career politicians
The very corrupt EAR MARK option.
CLOSED DOOR NEGOTIATIONS
Selling (or buying) votes for favors
Siding with the MEXICAN government, while Prosecuting Arizona.
Negotiating with TERRORISTS...
And AGAINST the bias main stream global corporate media
In short... everything that Barack Hussain Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their comrades stand for...
Bottom Line: The GOP is full of RINOs. The Tea Party Movement will be seeking them out and trying to render them irrelevant. The majority of The People are in favor of this, hence the rapid growth of the Tea Party Movement. Bill Raggio is a RINO and irrelevant.
Agreed, Nevada is full of RINOs. The time has we send a loud and clear message that we WILL clean house. We deserve better and demand leadership. ANYBODY, that supports "Backdoor Reid" should consider themselves endangered!
Simply put, get rid of Bill Raggio. Change that idiot out!
Give Raggio a break - he is a wily politician and knows what is best for the electorate, conservatives included.
It's really embarrassing to watch Raggio and Reid shoot themselves in the foot. We're now $13 trillion in debt and no real way to pay for it. Let's use some sense and get these folks out of our payroll.
A Vote for Senator Reid is a vote for illegal immigration