Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., could be facing one of the toughest re-election battles of his career and while he has pronounced himself ready and eager for the fight, there is evidence the pressure might be getting to him.
Reid last week fully antagonized the Las Vegas Review-Journal Newspaper, which has been critical of him, by reportedly telling its advertising director “I hope you go out of business” while the two shook hands at a Chamber of Commerce event.
Reid then delivered a speech to the Chamber in which he joked that he hopes the Review-Journal can continue to sell advertising because the paper also provides delivery of the Las Vegas Sun, which is more friendly to Reid.
Reid has been suffering from low poll numbers for months, but the most recent survey was particularly devastating, showing the Searchlight native to be trailing two prospective Republican opponents, former University of Las Vegas basketball player Danny Tarkanian and state GOP chairwoman Sue Lowden by 11 points and 5 points, respectively.
Protesters holding “Dump Reid” signs stood outside the Chamber event, according to reporting in the Sun.
The Review-Journal on Sunday called Reid’s comments “a full-on threat perpetrated by a bully who has forgotten that he was elected to office to protect Nevadans, not sound like he’s shaking them down” and said it was serving Reid notice “that this creepy tactic will not be tolerated.”
While Reid may perceive the paper’s treatment of him unfair, it employs more than 100 people. The unemployment rate in Las Vegas, meanwhile, jumped this month to more than 13 percent, according to the Sun.
