Reid is GOP target in 2010 election

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

Reid is GOP target in 2010 election
By ERICA WERNER and KATHLEEN HENNESSEY
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 3, 2009; 7:45 AM

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is among Republicans' biggest targets in 2010, but a GOP takedown is hardly a guarantee.

As Reid, 69, prepares to seek a fifth term, analysts say the leading Democratic voice in the Senate has turned off some voters in libertarian-leaning Nevada and undercut his slogan from campaigns past: "Harry Reid, Independent like Nevada."

Last week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee began airing its first critical ad against Reid, lambasting him as a "super-spending partisan." Committee spokesman Brian Walsh promised that Reid would have "a very competitive race on his hands."

But for all the Republicans' tough talk, Reid, one of Capitol Hill's wiliest politicians, has ensured that he'll be difficult, if not impossible, to beat.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. if they succeed, will we be able to tell the difference?

[acmavm]

9. That's what I was wondering. Why would the want to knock off

one of their own?

[SpiralHawk]

2. New slogan -- Harry Reid, His Fighting Days Are Over

Today Harry stands forthrightly for whimping out in the face of Republicon Homelander tantrums...

[Lasher]

3. It won't be hard to anticipate how they'll go about it.

They're dusting off the Daschle playbook.

[Demeter]

4. We Could Make It a Bipartisan Effort

I'm hoping he's gone, too--but I don't think the GOP will be the winner!

[Tesha]

5. There are quite a few "Democrats" who really need primary challengers.

John Lynch in NH is another!

Tesha

[depakid]

6. One thing ya gotta say is that they're not very bright

Harry Reid has been the best player on their team over and over for several years in a row. He's even crossed over and voted with them on bankruptcy legislation.

And they actually want to send him home?

[AllentownJake]

7. Good

Waste your time and money taking out an inept leader while we pick up Senate Seats in Flordida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and PA.

I'll make that trade 4 seats for our idiot majority leader.

[davidswanson]

8. take him out in a primary

should go without saying

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. Did we not learn from Daschle that having a Leader from an unsafe state is a bad idea?

Reid should do what's best for himself and the Senate and hand the keys over to Durbin. You know he'll never risk losing re-election.

[EPIC1934]

27. DURBIN WOULD BE GOOD REPLACE HARRY REID NOW!

GOOD IDEA. Durbin would be a solid choice. We cannot have a representative from a gamblins state be the leader of opposition at a time when laissez faire criminals are STILL managing to rool the roost! Or are the Democrats more interested in sharing the COrporate pay off than in being a real opposition party? Well we have eight years of silence to suggest that!

IF WE WANT CHANGE WE NEED TO START CRITICISING THE DEMS FROM THE LEFT ON BIG NEWSPAPER SITES WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM. THAT WAY WE ADD A LANE TO THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, NOT BY POSTING ONLY ON ""ALTERNATIVE SITES"""

[Alcibiades]

11. Good riddance

Almost any Democrat in the Senate would be better.

[tavalon]

13. Lie berman

Oh, wait, he isn't a Democrat, he's a Lieberman for Lieberman or somesuch crap.

I was being a smartass. I wouldn't want him for speaker any more than I would VP.

[Alcibiades]

20. The Senate doesn't have a Speaker

It's Majority Leader, but you're right, which is why I qualified it by saying "almost" any Senate Democrat would be better.

The other notable exception would be Ben Nelson.

[byeya]

12. Mike Mansfield, a fine Senate leader, from Montana, an

unsafe state, had no problem with reelections. Of course, Sen Mansfield had a reputation beyond reproach and could also keep the Democrats in line. Reid, not so much....OK, who is the primary challenger?

[Ian David]

14. They can fucking have him. n/t

[msongs]

15. dems need to primary reid and get a progressive from Nevada nt

[Robbins]

16. Reid

538 has him as one of the only elected(not counting the new appointed senators) Dem In trouble.Reid has always won his election by
Small margains except In 2004 when Republicans focused their attention on Daschle.Reid may need support from Obama to win.
Remember he carried Nevada by 12 points.After New Mexico this was the biggest flip from Bush to Obama(even though Bush barely won
New Mexico In 2004 and Bush's margains In nevada was always small)so don't expect Reid to be that Independent from Obama because
he may need his public support and he coming to NEvada to campagin for him.

There are now going to be open seats In Missouri,Ohio,Florida,and New Hampshere that could flip to Democrats.If kathleen Sebulis
Runs In Kansas for the Senate that IS another seat In Play.Plus Incumbent Republicans In Pennsylvnia,North Carolana,and Kentuckey
could be beaten.We will keep the New York and Delaware seats.Colorado,and Illinois senate seats could turn Into a race acoording to 538 but It Is better for our side than theirs.And few Democrats will be upset If Reid Is beaten.Of course they need a candate.
One was beaten for reelection to the house,and the Republican LT Governor Is In legal troubles down there.

[blueclown]

17. Why should Obama put his political capital on the line to save Reid?

Fuck him. His ineptness has made him a prime target, and Obama has better places to spend his time during the run-up to the 2010 midterms than Nevada. Let Reid sink or swim by himself.

[Robbins]

18. Obama

I don't think Obama should Inless Reid starts getting a backbone.But considering Obama's strength In Nevada Reid will need his
support If Republicans can find a candiate and they put a lot of resources there.If a lot of money and Republican heavy hitters
come to Nevada to work against Reid If Obama doesn't come to campagin for Reid he may be joining Daschle In defeated Retirement.

[w4rma]

19. Why does Reid want to be Majority Leader? It makes his reelection harder. That said, I like him and

want him to win. However, if he plays up being majority leader and being able to bring home the bacon as leader of the Senate, then he'll probably be unstoppable.

[donco6]

21. So, where do I donate?

I mean, could a Republican be any worse?

[CTLawGuy]

Reid's single biggest accomplishment

singlehandedly increasing the votes needed to pass legislation from 51 to 60. Hey that's gotta be impressive on some level.

[CTLawGuy]

22. Reid's single biggest accomplishment

singlehandedly increasing the votes needed to pass legislation from 51 to 60. Hey that's gotta be impressive on some level.

[JVS]

23. Oh dear. What shall become of us?

[yurbud]

24. If Reid needs help, he might consider helping Democratic base

He hasn't exactly built up a reservoir of good will with Democratic activists with his record of folding to Republicans, being an ineffective opposition leader, and now allowing the minority party to continue to check Democratic initiatives with threatened filibusters and holds on bills.

[melm00se]

25. shocked I tell you

absolutely shocked.

Aiming at the most visible members of the Legislature and Senate? Why would they do anything but?

[EPIC1934]

26. REMOVE MUTE HARRY!!!!!!!!

Good take him out. Remove in primary. Mute Harry has helped the GOP by being a mute in the trumpet of dissent.