Eric Kleefeld July 22, 2010, 9:43 AM

Former Nevada state Rep. Sharron Angle, the Republican nominee for Senate against Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid, is still getting the hang of holding a “press conference” with the media. At an event Wednesday, Angle spoke for three minutes on cutting taxes — and then quickly left when the assembled reporters tried to ask her questions.

The funniest thing, as shown in tracking video from the Nevada Democratic Party, is that Angle’s host seemingly invited the reporters to ask questions — then Angle suddenly walked away without saying anything.

As CNN points out, the event was in fact billed as a press conference in Angle’s own campaign events schedule. It should also be noted that Angle has previously said she avoids interviews with mainstream media outlets that would ask her tough questions, opting for conservative media where she can raise money from viewers.

The Las Vegas Sun gives some local color:

Alas, Angle’s more media-friendly moment was over almost as soon as it began.

In the warehouse of a family-owned clean diesel manufacturer in Sparks, Angle delivered a three-minute speech on her desire to permanently repeal the estate tax. When invited by the final speaker to stay and answer a few questions, she turned on her heel and rushed out a back door with a small cadre of staff members.

Reporters, including one who is six months pregnant, chased after her, calling out questions on unemployment benefits and other topics she has largely refused to address.

Brief though it may have been, the event was one of her first efforts to illustrate her philosophy that government’s role in the economy is largely to stay out of the way of the private sector.

The TPM Poll Average currently shows Reid edging ahead of Angle by a margin of 44.0%-43.1%.

2010 elections, NV-SEN, Senate '10, Sharron Angle