Republican Sharron Angle has a new ad in the Nevada Senate race, continuing her running theme of accusing Democrat Harry Reid of getting rich through corrupt means as a Senator. As Jon Ralston has previously pointed out, the charge is false — Reid was already wealthy from being a self-made lawyer and real estate investor before he ever went to Washington. But that’s not stopping Angle’s latest wave of ads.
“How did Harry Reid get so wealthy on a public servant’s income?” the announcer says accusingly. A small clip of Reid is shown from last week’s debate: “I did a very good job investing.” Angle began lobbing the charge at the debate, when she falsely stated that he had gone to Washington with “very little.”
The announcer cuts in: “Really? Like the shady deal where Reid made an astronomical million bucks doing nothing? The truth is, Reid is now worth up to $6 million, and lives in a $1 million Washington Ritz Carlton condo.”
Right-wing populism is a funny thing, to attack someone for being rich — and to propose not redistributing their wealth.
The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 48.5%-47.4%.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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