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PPP Poll: Reid Leads Angle By One Point

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2010, 1:18PM

US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

The new survey of the Nevada Senate race from Public Policy Polling (D) shows Harry Reid with a narrow edge over his Republican opponent Sharron Angle, in a voting environment that continues to show a big enthusiasm gap against the Democrats.

The numbers: Reid 49%, Angle 48%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.4% margin of error. In the previous PPP survey from all the way back in mid-July, Reid was ahead by 48%-46%.

This poll also tested a field including Reid and Angle, plus all the minor candidates that will be on the ballot, such as Tea Party candidate Scott Ashjian. Reid leads Angle by 47%-45%, with the other candidates all picking up only 0%-2% each.

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Ex-Nevada Senate Candidate Tarkanian Sets Up New Anti-Reid Site

Eric Kleefeld | August 26, 2010, 10:43AM

Former Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian (R-NV)

Danny Tarkanian, the businessman and former UNLV basketball player who lost the Republican Senate primary in Nevada to Sharron Angle, is getting back in the game to campaign against Senate Majority Leader Reid.

Tarkanian came in third place in the June 8 primary with 23% of the vote, behind Angle at 40% and Sue Lowden with 26%. Now he has set up a new committee, called "1001 Reasons to Vote Against Harry Reid," and a web site called HarryReidVotes.com. He said in a statement: "The voters of Nevada are hard working, smart people. I believe that once they are presented with the facts, they will say 'No' to Sen. Reid's cynical spin and elect someone new to represent our great state in the U.S. Senate."

Interestingly, this comes after Tarkanian's mother, Lois Tarkanian, revealed after the primary that she is a Democrat and is now campaigning for Reid against Angle.

The TPM Poll Average currently puts Reid ahead of Angle by 46.4%-43.8%.

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Angle's Former GOP Opponent's Mom Now Campaigning For Reid

Thomas Rhiel | August 6, 2010, 10:04AM

US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Let this be a lesson to all you politicians out there: whatever you do, don't mess with your opponent's mom.

Lois Tarkanian, the mother of former GOP Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian, spoke out on Thursday against Republican nominee Sharron Angle, her son's primary opponent, and now plans to campaign alongside Democrat Harry Reid. Tarkanian, a Las Vegas city councilwoman, joined other women in a Las Vegas café yesterday to denounce comments made by Angle, who in October said it was an "acceptable thing" when "one parent stays home with the children and the other provides financial support."

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Angling For The Win: Tea Party-Backed Candidate To Face Reid

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 9, 2010, 12:40AM

Sharron Angle, Republican candidate for Nevada US Senate seat

There's only one person happier than Sharron Angle after tonight's Republican Senate primary in Nevada -- and that's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. According to the AP, GOP voters chose Angle, a tea party favorite and an ultra-conservative, to face Reid in November after a rollicking primary that saw her defeat longtime frontrunner Sue Lowden and Nevada celebrity Danny Tarkanian.

With 59% of the precints reporting, Angle has 39% of the vote in the primary, handing her the GOP nomination in the crowded field of 12 candidates.

That means that Reid is now facing the candidate that his campaign probably preferred most among the top three vote-getters. Democrats say Angle is extreme and will alienate moderate voters once the fall campaign begins in earnest. But her win tonight proves that Angle could be formidable. She has the national support of the Tea Party Express in the race that tea partiers most want to win this year. That means Angle can count on instant access to millions in grassroots donations and likely thousands of tea partiers across the country ready to work to help her win.

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Lowden, Tarkanian Make Last Minute Appeal To Nevada GOP -- Using Glenn Beck!

Christina Bellantoni | June 8, 2010, 8:32PM

Danny Tarkanian (R)

With less than two hours before polls close in Nevada, Republican candidate Danny Tarkanian tried to make a last-minute appeal to voters using a warning from conservative talk show host Glenn Beck. "Team Tark" just sent an email to supporters with the subject line "Urgent - Watch before you vote."

It includes an ominous message suggesting that Beck was "warning against" favored candidate Sharron Angle, who surged recently thanks to her support from the tea party. The email includes a short clip from Beck's radio program from today, where he said tea partiers should "be careful who you get in bed with."

Beck said the tea party endorsement "may hurt the stronger Republican in the race and thus Harry Reid might sneak through." Tarkanian might want voters to think he's that "stronger Republican," but in all likelihood Beck was talking about one-time frontrunner Sue Lowden.

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Totally Plucked: What Happened To Sue Lowden's Once Formidable Campaign?

Eric Kleefeld | June 7, 2010, 3:18PM

Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R)

With tomorrow's Nevada primary coming up, it's worth looking back on the many gaffes and errors of former state GOP chair Sue Lowden, whose once-mighty Senate campaign has fallen behind Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle. Simply put, the chickens have come home to roost for what may be one of the worst-run Senate primary campaigns of this cycle.

Lowden shot to national fame in April, when she was caught on tape telling people to barter with their doctors in order to lower health care costs. Her other policy prescription for people grappling with expensive health care: "And if you want to save $20,000, good for you. Save it pre-tax."

A week later, Lowden dug in on the barter system: "Let's change the system and talk about what the possibilities are. I'm telling you that this works. You know, before we all started having health care, in the olden days, our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor. They would say I'll paint your house."

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Poll: Angle Surges Ahead In NV-SEN Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2010, 1:52PM

Republican NV-SEN candidates Sue Lowden, Danny Tarkanian, and Sharron Angle

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Nevada provides further corroboration that Tea Party-backed former state Rep. Sharron Angle has taken the lead in this Tuesday's Republican primary for Senate.

The numbers: Angle 34%, former state GOP chair and establishment-supported candidate Sue Lowden 25%, and former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian 24%. The poll of likely voters has a ±5% margin of error. Back in late April, Lowden had 38%, Tarkanian had 28%, and Angle was at a mere 13%.

The same poll also shows Harry Reid leading all three Republicans -- and doing the best against Angle. Kos writes: "I'll admit it -- I had written Reid off. But if there's a developing theme in this political season, it's the GOP's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And we can give the tea baggers a hearty and sincere 'thank you' for doing the seemingly impossible -- making our bumbling Dems look good by comparison."

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Poll: Reid Leading All GOPers In NV-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2010, 1:47PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of Nevada has Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid leading all three of his Republican challengers -- a big turnaround from his deficits in previous polls.

Reid leads former state Rep. Sharron Angle by 43%-37%, leads former state GOP chair Sue Lowden by 42%-38%, and leads ex-UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian by 43%-39%. The survey of likely voters has a margin of error. In the previous R2K poll from just over a month ago, all three GOP candidates had single-digit leads over Reid.

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Poll: Angle Leads In NV-SEN Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2010, 10:03AM

Sharron Angle, Republican candidate for Nevada US Senate seat

The new Suffolk poll of the Nevada Republican Senate primary gives Tea Party-backed former state Rep. Sharron Angle the lead.

The numbers: Angle 33%, ex-UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian 26%, and former state GOP chair and establishment-supported candidate Sue Lowden 25%. Lowden originally led in this primary, but has suffered dramatically from a variety of gaffes. The most notable example, of course, was when she suggested that people lower health care costs by using the barter system, referencing how her grandparents' generation would bring a chicken to the doctor's office as payment.

An Angle win in the primary would be good news for the Tea Party movement -- but very mixed for the GOP, as polling thus far has consistently shown her to be the weakest possible Republican candidate against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Harry Reid

Reid On Potential NV-SEN Opponents: 'They All Scare Me'

Jillian Rayfield | June 1, 2010, 10:11AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn't care who opposes him the general election for his Nevada Senate seat. "They all scare me," he said yesterday.

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Poll: Lowden Barely Ahead Of Angle In NV-SEN Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | May 28, 2010, 10:07AM

US Senate candidates Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Sue Lowden (R-NV)

The new Mason-Dixon poll of Nevada shows a tight race for the Republican Senate primary, between establishment-backed former state GOP chair Sue Lowden and Tea Party-supported former state Rep. Sharron Angle.

The numbers: Lowden 30%, Angle 29%, and ex-UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian 23%, followed by state Rep. Chad Christensen at 3% and businessman John Chachas with 2%. The poll of likely primary voters has a ±4.5% margin of error. In the previous Mason-Dixon poll from two weeks ago, Lowden led Angle by 30%-25%, with Tarkanian at 22% and the Christensen and Chachas in the low single-digits.

Lowden and Angle have been in a tough fight for the June 8 primary. Lowden has attacked Angle for alleged ties to Scientology, while the Club For Growth is running ads defending Angle and attacking Lowden for having donated to Harry Reid many years ago.

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Poll: Reid In Dead Heat With GOP Challengers

Eric Kleefeld | May 28, 2010, 9:24AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

The new Mason-Dixon poll of Nevada shows some signs of new life for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with him barely trailing two of his Republican challengers -- and even leading former state Rep. Sharron Angle, the Tea Party-backed candidate for the GOP nomination.

Former state GOP chair Sue Lowden leads Reid by 42%-39, former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian edges Reid by 42%-41%, and Reid leads Angle by 42%-39%. The poll of registered voters has a ±4% margin of error. In the previous Mason-Dixon poll from early April, Lowden led Reid by 46%-38%, Tarkanian was tied with Reid at 39%-39%, and Angle -- who at the time was widely ignored -- was not tested.

Reid has polled poorly against the GOP candidates for this whole cycle. The TPM Poll Average has Lowden leading Reid by 48.4%-38.4%, Tarkanian leading Reid by 47.0%-40.4%, and Angle with the smallest lead of all at just 42.8%-41.3%.

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Poll: Angle Leads In NV-SEN Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | May 20, 2010, 3:09PM

Republican NV-SEN candidates Sue Lowden, Danny Tarkanian, and Sharron Angle

A new Patriot Majority/Public Policy Polling (D) survey of Nevada finds that former state Rep. Sharron Angle leads in the Republican primary for Senate, over establishment candidate and former state Sen. Sue Lowden and former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian.

The numbers: Angle 29%, Lowden 26%, Tarkanian 24%, followed by state Rep. Chad Christensen and businessman John Chachas at 5% each. The poll of likely GOP primary voters has a ±3.8% margin of error.

A recent Mason-Dixon poll showed Angle surging into second place, trailing Lowden by 30%-25%, with Tarkanian at 22%. Lowden began the primary as the establishment favorite, but has stumbled as a result of her now-infamous suggestion that people use the barter system to lower their health care costs -- discussing how her grandparents' generation would bring a chicken to the doctor as payment.

(Via Jon Ralston.)

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Club For Growth Endorses Angle In NV-SEN Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | May 19, 2010, 12:25PM

Former Nevada legislator Sharron Angle (R)

The Club For Growth has made its choice in the Nevada Senate race, picking tea party-backed former state Rep. Sharron Angle in the three-way Republican primary to go up against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

This brings the Club's considerable heft into a race that has seen GOP establishment favorite Sue Lowden fumble from her suggestion that people use the barter system to lower their health care costs -- infamously discussing how her grandparents' generation would bring a chicken to the doctor as payment. Former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian is also competing with Angle for hardline conservative votes, and the Club's choice could potentially have a big impact. They've already had a strong cycle for Republican nominations, advancing Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania and Marco Rubio in Florida -- and they have taken credit for Utah Sen. Bob Bennett losing renomination at his state GOP convention.

A recent Mason-Dixon poll showed Angle surging into second place, trailing Lowden by 30%-25%, with Tarkanian at 22%.

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Lowden Takes Heat Over Status Of Donated Campaign RV

Eric Kleefeld | May 18, 2010, 1:03PM

Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R)

Senate candidate Sue Lowden (R-NV) is now under fire for a possible campaign finance violation, with one of her Republican primary opponents calling foul over her use of a luxury R.V. given to the campaign by a supporter.

A week and a half ago, Lowden claimed that the RV had been donated: "Why would anyone want to demean the fact that someone donated an RV to me? It's unfortunate that no one donated an RV to them."

The Lowden campaign now says, however, that the the R.V. was officially leased to Lowden by casino owner Carl Giuduci and his wife Elsie Giuduci, who have each made in-kind contributions to Lowden for the vehicle's use that are listed as being under the legal limit of $2,400 per-person. As the Las Vegas Review Journal notes: "According to a redacted lease agreement released by the campaign that did not provide any dollar figures, Lowden must return the vehicle after she is done using it during her bid for public office."

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GOP Comes To Harry Reid's Rescue With Intraparty Brawl

Christina Bellantoni | May 13, 2010, 1:12PM

Republican NV-SEN candidates Sue Lowden, Danny Tarkanian, and Sharron Angle

A Republican civil war and some rather, well, fowl comments about health care might just be giving Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a fresh chance at reelection this fall.

For months Reid (D-NV) has seemed like a goner as each one of his potential GOP rivals held solid leads in polls. But as the June 8 primary nears, the Republicans in the crowded field of challengers have turned on one another and the race is tightening. It seems Sue Lowden is no longer immune to the Republican intraparty wars sprouting up across the country as Utah GOPers boot a longtime senator and as Kentucky Republicans are sparring over the better candidate to run for Senate.

Sue Lowden, the former state chairman who seemed like the favorite candidate of official Washington, is taking heat from all sides as Democrats and several GOP challengers have seized on her suggestion that a health care bartering system would work better than the reform law passed by Congress this spring. The Democrats had a field day dubbing it "Chickens for Checkups," but it's Lowden's Republican challenger Danny Tarkanian who has done the most damage on the topic. He's also made an issue out of Lowden's campaign contributions to Reid more than a decade ago.

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ChickenCare Hurting Lowden? New Dem Poll Has Her Trailing Reid

Eric Kleefeld | May 12, 2010, 2:21PM

Fmr. Nevada GOP Chair Sue Lowden and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

A new poll from a Democratic firm suggests that Senate candidate Sue Lowden's (R-NV) idea that people could use the barter system to reduce their health care costs may have damaged her chances in a general election against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D). At the very least, it appears that Lowden is a weaker GOP candidate than one of her rivals in the primary, former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian.

The numbers, obtained by Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston: Reid 42%, Lowden 35%, right-wing Independent American Party candidate Tim Fasano with 5%, and Tea Party candidate Scott Ashjian 3%. With Tarkanian as the Republican nominee, he and Reid are tied at 37%-37%, with Fasano at 7% and Ashjian with 2%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.5% margin of error.

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Poll: 'Chicken For Checkups' Could Hurt Lowden -- But Hasn't Yet

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2010, 4:52PM

Chickens; Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden (inset)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Nevada Senate race includes a question on Republican candidate Sue Lowden's comments praising the use of the barter system in order to lower health care costs. The poll shows that the "Chickens For Checkups" story has the potential to badly damage Lowden -- but for now, at least, she is still leading Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by a narrow margin, and she is also ahead in her GOP primary.

The question reads: "As you may know, Sue Lowden has proposed reducing medical costs by having patients barter with their doctor instead of using health insurance. Under Lowden's barter proposal, patients would negotiate directly with doctors, offering services or goods such as painting the doctor's home or giving the doctor a chicken, in exchange for medical treatment. QUESTION: Do you think Lowden's proposal is a realistic way to bring medical costs down for most families?"

The result: Yes 14%, no 81%. Among Republicans only, the result is 27%-68%. It should be noted that this seemingly absurd question is in fact a fairly accurate and straightforward summary of Lowden's comments from last week.

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Fundraising

First Quarter Fundraising Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 5, 2010, 7:06PM

Former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA)

Here are some key fundraising numbers from today and this past weekend:

• Former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA), who is seeking to oust Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, announced that he raised over $2.3 million, and has over $4 million in cash on hand.

• Freshman Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO), who was one of the eight House Democrats to switch from a no to a yes on the health care bill, raised over $500,000 -- and more than $355,000 of it came in the last two weeks of the quarter, after she'd announced her support for the bill. So clearly, the Dem base rewarded her for rejoining the party fold on this very crucial vote.

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Nevada Tea Battle: Grassroots Groups Call New Third Party Fake, Ban It From Events

Christina Bellantoni | March 15, 2010, 9:48AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and a tea partier

Is there a fake tea party brewing in Nevada? Tea partiers who have declared Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) public enemy No. 1 sure seem to think so.

The Tea Party of Nevada formed an official third party in the Silver State, with candidate Jon Ashjian hoping to defeat Reid. But tea party groups that oppose becoming official third parties cried foul. Some conservatives have even accused Ashjian of being a front for Reid supporters who hope to dilute the Republican and tea party votes in the fall.

Twenty of Nevada's self-proclaimed "grassroots tea party groups" signed a statement denouncing the Tea Party of Nevada. The groups issued a blanket ban, saying the third party won't be invited to or welcome at any grassroots events in the state.

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Polls Show Harry Reid Not Making Any Headway In Nevada

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 5, 2010, 1:31PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

At some point, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's tanking poll numbers have to hit bottom. Despite being among the most powerful men in the government -- well, or maybe exactly because of it -- Reid can't seem to get his constituents back home in Nevada interested in reelecting him.

As the months go on, Reid continues to sink further and further the polls, but a new poll out today shows he hasn't found the bottom yet. With the addition of today's new Rasmussen poll of the Nevada race, the TPM Poll Averages of hypothetical matchups in Nevada now show Reid trailing all three of the likely GOP nominees by double digits, garnering less than 40% of the vote each case.

The message is clear: whatever Reid is doing to boost support in Nevada these days, it's not working.

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Poll: Nevada Souring On Not Just Reid, But Dems In General

Eric Kleefeld | January 14, 2010, 11:34AM

Pres. Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

The new survey of Nevada by Public Policy Polling (D) not only finds that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in trouble for his re-election. It suggests that Democrats would still have a hard time with a different nominee in most situations, with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman coming out the best.

Reid trails former state GOP chair Sue Lowden by 51%-41%, and he's behind former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian by 50%-42%. Other Democratic names in the state were tested, and most of them didn't do well, either. Rep. Shelly Berkley trails Lowden by 46%-38% and Tarkanian by 47%-39%. Secretary of State Ross Miller trails Lowden by 44%-34% and Tarkanian by 45%-34%.

Goodman edges Lowden by 42%-40%, within the ±3.6% margin of error, and ties Tarkanian at 41%-41%. Goodman has been widely discussed in the local media as a potential independent candidate for governor, not as a Senate candidate. (He could also have plenty of material that an opponent could try to use against him statewide, such as his famous answer when a group of schoolchildren asked him what his hobbies were. His answer: "Drinking.")

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