NV-02

Sharron Angle Drops Out Of NV-02 Special Election, Calls Process 'A Mockery'

Eric Kleefeld | May 25, 2011, 4:04PM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

It looks like Nevada won't have Sharron Angle to kick around -- at least not for a while, as the former state representative and unsuccessful 2010 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate has announced that she will no longer run in the special election for NV-02.

Angle, who is reportedly disliked by the GOP establishment in the state, had previously been running for the open seat when Rep. Dean Heller was running for an open U.S. Senate seat. When Heller was appointed directly to the seat, after GOP Sen. John Ensign resigned due to his sex scandal and potential expulsion from the chamber, a special election for NV-02 was organized.

Since then, there has been ongoing litigation between Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller and the state GOP over the format the election would take: Miller favors a wide-open election in which anyone can file, and the GOP is suing for the ability to select a candidate through an internal party process. (In either case, there would be no primary, and the plurality-winner would take the seat.) A judge sided with the GOP last week, but the matter appears to be headed for the state Supreme Court on appeal.

And in the fact of that process, Angle is getting out of the race -- but leaving the door open to running for office later on.

Read more »

2011 Elections

Nevada GOP Sues For Ability To Select Candidate In Special House Election

Eric Kleefeld | May 5, 2011, 6:07PM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

As expected, the Nevada Republican Party is suing Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller (D) for the right to select candidates for the special election to replace recently appointed Sen. Dean Heller (R) in his House of Representatives seat, after Miller announced that the election would be a wide-open, single-round race in which anybody could file.

The initial expectation had been that party leaders would select nominees for the race, without a primary -- a scenario that would likely hurt the chances of unsuccessful 2010 Senate nominee Sharron Angle -- but that there was also the possibility of a wide-open race. Then on Monday, Miller announced that his interpretation of the law was that it allows for the multi-candidate race, rather than party insiders picking the candidates.

As Jon Ralston says, the lawsuit "should forever be known as The Stop Sharron Angle Lawsuit."

Read more »

NV-02

Nevada Sec. of State Announces Wide-Open Special Election For Heller Seat

Eric Kleefeld | May 2, 2011, 3:36PM

Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)

Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller (D) has announced that the special election to replace Republican Rep. Dean Heller, who has been appointed to the Senate, will feature a single-round, potentially multi-candidate race in which anybody can file -- a development that could potentially hurt Republican efforts to hold on to the seat if they were to split their votes.

The initial expectation had been that party leaders would select nominees for the race, without a primary -- a scenario that would likely hurt the chances of unsuccessful 2010 Senate nominee Sharron Angle -- but that there was also the possibility of a wide-open race.

A similar election took place in Hawaii last year, in which Democrats split the vote between two candidates against one Republican in a normally very blue district. This helped to elect Republican candidate Charles Djou, who later narrowly lost re-election to a full term in November 2010, when he faced only a single Democrat.

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Sharron Angle

Sharron Angle For Senate? Poll Says Fat Chance

Jon Terbush | April 29, 2011, 8:20AM

According to a PPP poll released this week, Sharron Angle would face strong opposition should she run for a Senate seat in Nevada next year. This time, however, that opposition would come from within her own party.

In the poll, Angle trailed Rep. Dean Heller (R) in a hypothetical Republican primary contest to seek the seat being vacated by embattled Sen. John Ensign (R) -- and it wasn't even close. In that matchup, Heller led Angle by a mammoth 84% to 8% margin.

Read more »

NV-02

Angle Won't Run As Indy -- But Criticizes Special Election Process

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2011, 4:39PM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Sharron Angle, the former Nevada state representative and unsuccessful 2010 Republican Senate nominee, is committing to run for Nevada's open (and soon to be vacant) House seat as a Republican -- after some speculation that she might launch an independent bid if the party leaders did not select her for the special election.

At the same time, the Las Vegas Review Journal reports, Angle pledged to continue running in the Republican primary for the 2012 cycle, and she criticized the fact that party leaders, rather than voters, could end up picking the candidate -- a pretty clear hint that she could potentially challenge any Republican who does get elected, if she were passed over.

"I look forward to running in a legitimate campaign cycle where all registered voters are able to participate in both a primary and general election," Angle said in a statement released on Tuesday. "A special election free-for-all, or a situation where party insiders nominate a candidate, does disservice to our representative democracy."

On Wednesday, Rep. Dean Heller (R) was officially announced as the new appointee to the Senate after the resignation of Sen. John Ensign. Heller had already been running for the seat, following Ensign's earlier announcement that he would not run in 2012, which led Angle to declare her candidacy in her home House district that she had carried in the 2010 Senate race.

NV-02

The GOP's Angle Problem: Nevada's Upcoming Special House Election

Eric Kleefeld | April 22, 2011, 11:53AM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

The resignation of scandal-plagued Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), and the expected appointment of current Republican candidate Rep. Dean Heller to the seat, could portend a political mess of a wholly different sort: A special election for Heller's House seat -- and the conundrum for Republicans posed by the potential candidacy of their losing U.S. Senate nominee from 2010, Sharron Angle.

Angle, who lost the 2010 Senate race despite the national Republican wave -- due to controversy over extreme statements about "Second Amendment remedies" to Democratic policies, and her statements in favor of phasing out Social Security and Medicare -- has already been running for the House seat, along with retired Navy Commander Kirk Lippold, who was chief officer of the U.S.S. Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda in 2000. In addition, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and state GOP chair Mark Amodei are reportedly considering the race.

The problem: Under the rules for special elections in Nevada, the parties would select the nominees rather than primary voters doing the job -- and the same party leaders who watched Angle blow the very winnable 2010 Senate race, would be much more likely to pick someone else.

As Roll Call reports:

If the parties are ultimately allowed to choose their nominees, a high-ranking Nevada GOP source said there is "no way" Angle would be tapped to be the party's standard-bearer. But Amodei would likely have the upper hand in that scenario.

Read more »

NV-02

Sharron Angle: Veterans PAC 'Betrayed America' By Endorsing Reid In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | March 24, 2011, 5:18PM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Sharron Angle, the former Nevada state representative and 2010 Republican Senate nominee who is now running for an open House seat, is attacking the now-defunct PAC of the Veterans of Foreign Wars -- which endorsed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in that crucial 2010 election -- saying that the VFW-PAC "betrayed America."

In the last election cycle, objections by some VFW members to the PAC's endorsements, which included various incumbent Democrats, ultimately led to the organization dismissing the PAC's board, and taking steps to dissolve the PAC entirely.

Now, as Jon Ralston reports, Angle e-mailed her supporter list to promote a conservative group, Veterans in Defense of Liberty, for which she serves on the advisory board.

In the letter, Angle declares that as a "proud American, I was very disappointed" when the VFW-PAC "betrayed America and American Veterans by endorsing liberal members of Congress like Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Ron Klein in the last election."

Read more »

NV-02

Sharron Angle To Self-Publish Autobiography

Eric Kleefeld | March 23, 2011, 10:50AM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Sharron Angle, the former Nevada state representative and 2010 Republican Senate nominee who is now running for an open House seat, is soon to roll out a hallmark of much larger, national campaigns: Her own autobiographical book.

The title: "Right Angle."

But unlike presidential candidates and other top-tier politicians, Angle won't be releasing the book through a major publisher -- instead, she'll be going the humble route of the self-publishing houses, in which any aspiring author can pay to have their book printed. The Associated Press reports that Angle intends to release the book in April:

An AuthorHouse spokesman told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Angle contracted the book with the leading self-publishing company this month, just days before she announced her campaign for the U.S. House.

Spokesman Kevin Gray says publishing packages can cost up to $15,000. Copies of the book would be printed by demand.

NV-02

Sharron Angle Takes Questions From The Press

Eric Kleefeld | March 22, 2011, 12:58PM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Sharron Angle, the former Nevada state representative and 2010 Republican nominee for Senate, is kicking off her campaign this cycle for an open House seat by doing something she wouldn't do last time -- taking questions from reporters.

As the Reno Gazette Journal reports, Angle did indeed take some tough questions about her prior poor relationship with the press. "I am hoping that we will have a deep regard for each other," Angle said. "That is why I wanted to do this event and invite you to have a time set aside just for us to talk and for you to ask me these questions so we can get out on the right foot."

And she said of her own determination to finally win a federal office:

"Both Ronald Reagan and Lincoln had losses," Angle said. "What would've happened to our country if they'd quit?

"A true leader leads by example, and I'm no quitter."

Regarding her past habit of referring to reporters as "the lame stream media," Angle said: "We were just playing with them."

Read more »

NV-02

She's Back! Sharron Angle Launches House Campaign (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 16, 2011, 1:41PM

NV-02 House candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Sharron Angle, the former Nevada state representative and 2010 Republican nominee for Senate -- who lost that race due in part to her talk about "Second Amendment remedies" and other very right-wing positions, and a refusal to speak to non-conservative media -- has now officially declared her candidacy for the open House seat in the state's Second District, which Republican Rep. Dean Heller is leaving to run for Senate.

Angle previously ran for the seat in 2006, very narrowly losing the Republican primary to Heller in the open-seat race. She then went on to great fame in 2010, ultimately losing the Senate race to Reid by a 50%-45% margin.

"The 2010 election was bittersweet," Angle says in a new YouTube video. "Conservatives had some victories, but we still face obstacles from Democrats in Congress, and in the White House.

Read more »

Sharron Angle

Sharron Angle: I'm Not Involved In PAC's Decisions

Eric Kleefeld | February 8, 2011, 2:45PM

2010 Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

Sharron Angle, the Republican former Nevada state Representative who lost her campaign last year against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has been working to keep herself in the limelight -- most notably with a recent visit to Iowa. But interestingly, she has now distanced herself from a PAC that was associated with her, the Patriot Caucus PAC.

As Jon Ralston reports, Angle put out a statement yesterday, which "clarified," in the release's words, her relationship with the PAC. "I had originally lent my name to this PAC to help them start-up so that they could assist in organizing TEA Party efforts and local conservative grass-roots GOTV (Get-Out-the-Vote) efforts," Angle writes.

"They are off to a good start. I am pleased to have been of assistance. I was not, and am not now, involved in their decision-making processes.

"I am working on several projects and will announce them, as I update my website: www.sharronangle.com."

Pres '12

Sharron Angle To Pursue Her Twelfth Amendment Remedies?

Eric Kleefeld | January 27, 2011, 9:39AM

2010 Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

Could Sharron Angle, the Republican former Nevada state Representative who lost her campaign last year against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after she made such hard-right comments as alluding to the people's "Second Amendment remedies" against the government, now have her eye on a presidential campaign?

Angle was in the key first presidential caucus state of Iowa last night, to attend a premiere of a Christian movie called The Genesis Code, about a young man and his love interest trying to reconcile religious faith with scientific facts (on the idea there must be some misunderstanding about them being in conflict at all).

And while she was there, the question was asked whether she might run for president -- which she didn't rule out!

Read more »

Sharron Angle

Defeated Senate Candidate Sharron Angle Headed To...Iowa?

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 10:02AM

2010 Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

Sharron Angle might have lost the 2010 Senate race in Nevada -- and thus a shot at everlasting fame if she had defeated a sitting Senate Majority Leader -- but that's not stopping her from going to Iowa, the top destination for political stars in the presidential season.

As the Des Moines Register reports, Angle is headed to an event tomorrow by the Iowa Christian Alliance Education Fund, for a movie screening.

Well, she's definitely staying involved.

Read more »

Sharron Angle

Angle's PAC 'Agrees' With Reid On China's Hu Being Dictator

Eric Kleefeld | January 21, 2011, 3:16PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and 2010 Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) recent description of Chinese President Hu Jintao as a "dictator" has now attracted the somewhat backhanded agreement of an unlikely source -- the Patriot Caucus PAC, which was established after the 2010 election by his very right-wing GOP opponent, former state Rep. Sharron Angle.

"It's not often we can fully agree with something Harry Reid says," the PAC's online administrators write. "A statement made by Harry Reid yesterday, however, warrants strong agreement."

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John Dingell

John Dingell Runs Through Litany Of Violent Rhetoric On House Floor (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | January 12, 2011, 4:37PM

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

Members of Congress have, by and large, stayed out of the partisan fray over violent rhetoric in the wake of the Arizona shooting spree. But there have been some exceptions. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) took the opportunity to muse that the government may be withholding information about the crime because Jared Loughner is a flag-hating Marxist liberal who might embarrass President Obama.

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), by contrast, ran through a litany of now-infamous statements by high-profile politicians, leaving blank the names of people and issues under threat.

"Let me read some statements that I have seen to be pretty awful," he said on Wednesday.

Here they are in order:

Read more »

Gabrielle Giffords

Sharron Angle: It's 'Irresponsible' To Blame Me, Palin And Tea Party Movement

Jillian Rayfield | January 12, 2011, 8:58AM

Sharron Angle

Former Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle has spoken out against the shootings in Tucson this weekend that included Rep. Gabrielle Giffords -- who remains in critical condition after being shot in the head -- saying that "expanding the context of the attack to blame and to infringe upon the people's Constitutional liberties is both dangerous and ignorant."

Read more »

NV-SEN

What The Cluck? Lowden Ready To Run Again (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 7, 2011, 6:37PM

Sue Lowden

Sue Lowden might not be done kicking up the dust in Nevada politics. In an interview just now with Chris Matthews, the former Nevada Senate candidate, who lost the Republican primary last year, was asked whether she might run for the Senate in 2012, if scandal-plagued incumbent Republican Sen. John Ensign were to retire. And on top of that, you might be surprised to hear what she's doing now.

"If John Ensign doesn't run, and Congressman Dean Heller decides not to throw his hat in the ring, I would think about it seriously," said Lowden.

"But you don't want to beat Heller?" Matthews asked

"I don't think I can beat Heller," Lowden said, laughing. "I mean, that's an honest answer it's a very honest answer."

What's the matter, Sue Lowden -- chicken?

Read more »

2010 elections

Neva-d'oh! 68% Of Nevadans Regret Nominating Sharron Angle

Jon Terbush | January 7, 2011, 8:45AM

Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R)

If Nevada voters could do it over again, they'd really, really like to nominate someone not named Sharron Angle, according to a new PPP poll.

In the poll, 68% of Nevadans said they think Republicans should have nominated someone other than Sharron Angle to challenge Sen. Harry Reid last year. Only 21% said the GOP did the right thing in nominating Angle, and 11% had no opinion.

Read more »

Sharron Angle

One Crazy Year: 2010's Most Outrageous Breakout Pols (VIDEOS)

Jillian Rayfield | December 31, 2010, 8:34AM

Though every year brings head-scratching remarks from out-of-the-woodwork politicians, 2010 saw those politicians gaining a national platform to broadcast their head-scratchingest views, thanks to the midterm elections.

Here are five of the most outrageous pols who broke out in 2010...

Read more »

2010 elections

Top Five Political Catch Phrases Of 2010

Brian Beutler | December 29, 2010, 12:45PM

Sarah Palin

A big part of politics is coming up with catchy slogans and phrases so that voters draw conclusions that help your party. They run the gamut from Barack Obama's "Yes we can!" to Sarah Palin's "death panels."

The flipside of that is that you have to avoid saddling yourself with unflattering slogans and catch phrases. A bad gaffe will stick to a politician like flypaper -- sometimes for years. These buzzwords and catchphrases bubble up into the political discourse all the time. Most of them dissipate harmlessly, but a few attach themselves to their subjects like stink on, well, chickencrap.

Here's our list of the top five political catch phrases of 2010 -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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Sharron Angle

Sharon Angle Joins Tea Party Campaign Group

David Taintor | December 13, 2010, 11:13AM

Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle may have gone down in the Nevada Senate race, but she's wasting no time ensuring Tea Party ideals are represented in 2012. According to Roll Call, she is joining Tea Partiers from 15 states to promote a political action organization.

The Patriot Caucus -- founded in December, 2009 -- will set up offices in many key battleground states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida and Nevada in early 2011. The group will also launch what organizers call a "state-of-the-art" website that will serve as an online hub for the group.

Read more »

Sharron Angle

Sharron Angle: 'Sometimes Dictators Have Good Ideas'

David Taintor | November 18, 2010, 12:13PM

Sharron Angle

Failed Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle -- who fell short in her bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) -- is making headlines again, this time for having said "sometimes dictators have good ideas."

Jon Ralston at the Las Vegas Sun reports that Angle made the comments at a private meet and greet late in the campaign season.

Read more »

Stephen Colbert

Colbert On Sharron Angle's Loss: Now We'll Never Find Out What Her Positions Are (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 4, 2010, 10:36AM

Stephen Colbert said he is "devastated" about Republican Sharron Angle's loss in Nevada. She was "so close to giving us all the answers," he said. And "now we'll never find out what her positions were."

Angle told a reporter last week that she'd be happy to answer questions "when I'm the senator."

"That was her whole allure," he added. "The mystery, the suspense. She was like a Dan Brown novel, but with even more historical inaccuracies."

Read more »

Sharron Angle

Sharron Angle Boasts Of Raising Millions From Out Of State Donors (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | November 3, 2010, 9:50AM

Sharron Angle

Most politicians try to distance themselves from money filtering into their races from out-of-state, or out-of-district. But in her concession speech last night, Sharron Angle actually boasted that a big chunk of her $14 million haul last quarter came from donors whom she wouldn't even have been representing.

"We were able to inspire not only Nevadans, but a country," Angle said. "Think of this. In the last quarter, we raised $14.3 million. Eighty percent of that came from out of our state. That means that America was wanting, was desperate, to help us."

Read more »

Harry Reid

Harry Reid: 'Difficult Is Not Synonymous With Impossible'

Megan Carpentier | November 3, 2010, 2:07AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Sen. Harry Reid took the stage at his raucous victory party to thank his wife, his family and all his supporters for not giving up on him. He said his victory represented a repudiation of black-and-white ideology -- presumably represented by his opponent Sharron Angle "It's not about us versus them," he said. "It's about every Nevadan working together."

But Reid acknowledged that his victory wasn't the end of his fighting days.

Read more »

Sharron Angle

Harry Reid Defeats Sharron Angle

Brian Beutler | November 3, 2010, 12:43AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

In most election years, the fact that Harry Reid beat a far right political naif like Sharron Angle wouldn't be big news. But this year its among the biggest and happiest for Democrats all night.

With both MSNBC and Fox calling the race in Reid's favor by shortly after 12:30 a.m. ET, Reid was beating Angle 51 percent to 44 percent with less than half the precincts reporting and the results trending in his favor.

Reid was not supposed to win this election. His approval ratings are terrible in Nevada, where unemployment and foreclosure rates are among the highest in the country. And as the face of the Senate Democrats, his constituents rightly hold him accountable for unpopular Democratic policies that have been unable to prevent economic depression in his state.

Read more »

2010 elections

I Am Not A Witch...I'm Aqua Buddha?: The Most Iconic Moments From The 2010 Campaign

Jillian Rayfield | November 2, 2010, 11:56AM

Scenes from the 2010 midterms.

From the moment "Tom Campbell"'s eyes glowed red in Carly Fiorina's "Demon Sheep" ad, we knew this campaign season was going to be chock-full of bizarre and memorable memes. And we were right -- sheep, witches, and chickens were just a few of the iconic moments from the 2010 midterm elections.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Stranger Than Fiction? TPM Casts The 2010 Midterms Movie]

So here are TPM's favorites...

Read more »

Stephen Colbert

Colbert: Sharron Angle's From The Desert And Uses Decoys - Just Like Saddam! (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 2, 2010, 10:13AM

Stephen Colbert figured out last night how Sharron Angle is pulling ahead in the Nevada Senate race: "What's the secret to the popularity of Angle's policies? That she keeps her policies a secret."

Angle has repeatedly dodged the press during her campaign, even going so far as to using decoys to fool reporters.

"Bravo Miss Angle," Colbert said as he put up a picture of Saddam Hussein. "It has been a while since we've had a strong leader from a desert land who uses decoys."

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Stranger Than Fiction? TPM Casts The 2010 Midterms Movie]

Read more »

2010 elections

Day Of The Tea Party? Election Day Answers Some, Not All Questions

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2010, 8:58AM

Clockwise from top left: Sharron Angle (R-NV), Joe Miller (R-AK), Ken Buck (R-CO), Christine O'Donnell (R-DE)

So this is it -- the day the tea partiers take back America. Or at least part of it. Or at least convince Republicans to stop taking it away as much as they did the last time they were in charge. Or at least convince Republicans to repeatedly respond to the movement's inflamed passions with tea party-friendly rhetoric.

Whatever happens, tonight's tally sheets will be all about the tea party -- those folks on TV will be counting candidates and races to see how big the tea party's influence in Washington will be in the end. There are several races to watch, but the main thing to remember is that the tea party can't really lose tonight: all they can really do is win less.

Read more »

NV-SEN

'Monopoly' Makers Send Angle Cease-And-Desist Letter Over Website

Eric Kleefeld | November 1, 2010, 7:32PM

Nevada GOP Senate Candidate Sharron Angle

Heh, this is funny. It is now being alleged that one of the Sharron Angle campaign's efforts to attack Harry Reid for being soft on illegal immigration was itself... illegal!

As the Huffington Post reports, the Hasbro corporation, which owns the "Monopoly" game, has sent Team Angle a cease-and-desist letter over their website "Harry Reid's Amnesty Game," which uses Monopoly imagery and touts itself as being "fun for the whole illegal family":

Read more »

2010 elections

Senate In The Balance: TPM's Look At The 9 Key Races Still Up For Grabs

Eric Kleefeld | November 1, 2010, 5:06PM

Clockwise from top left: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

As we head into Election Day, one thing is clear for Senate Democrats: It's going to be bad. Seriously. There's no going anywhere but down. But how far down?

It's unlikely that Democrats will manage to lose their majority outright, since they're starting at the high mark of 59 seats. But things sure look rough. Open seats in Indiana and North Dakota seem to be gone already, along with incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Republican seats that seemed like potential Dem pickups much earlier in the cycle -- North Carolina and open seats in Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Ohio -- are clearly out of reach.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Stranger Than Fiction? TPM Casts The 2010 Midterms Movie]

The few bright spots for Democrats are open seats in Connecticut and Delaware, where very weak Republican candidates Linda McMahon and Christine O'Donnell have spared the Dems from total humiliation. So with that in mind, let's take a look at some other key races to watch tomorrow.

Read more »

NV-SEN

Fox News Poll: Angle Ahead By 3 Points In NV-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | November 1, 2010, 12:05PM

NV-SEN candidates Sharron Angle (R) and Harry Reid (D)

The new Fox News poll of the Nevada Senate race has Republican nominee Sharron Angle maintaining a narrow lead against Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The numbers: Angle 48%, Reid 45%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. In the previous Fox poll from three weeks ago, Angle led by 49%-47%.

The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 49.5%-46.4%.

Read more »

NV-SEN

PPP Poll: Neck And Neck In Nevada Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | November 1, 2010, 9:57AM

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sharron Angle (R)

The new survey of the Nevada Senate race from Public Policy Polling (D) shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican nominee Sharron Angle running neck-and-neck.

The initial numbers, including all candidates on the ballot: Angle 47% Reid 46%, Tea Party candidate Scott Ashjian 3%, five other candidates at 0%-1%, and the peculiar Nevada option of "None of the Above" 1%.

When the question was asked against a strict two-way option of Reid and Angle, Reid has an edge of 49%-48%. Keep in mind that support for third-party candidates often collapses in the voting booth, with people breaking to the major candidates, though this effect is very hard to predict.

The survey of likely voters has a ±3.8% margin of error. The previous PPP poll from early October put Reid ahead by 47%-45% in the multi-candidate race, and ahead 49%-48% in the two-way race.

Read more »

NV-SEN

Angle Camp Bans Two TV Stations From Election Night Party -- For Asking Questions

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 5:17PM

Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Republican Sharron Angle's nasty relationship with the press is reaching yet another whole new level, the Associated Press reports: Her Nevada Senate campaign has now banned two local TV stations from her Election Night party. Their offense? Apparently, it was that they asked her questions without permission:

Journalists from the local CBS and NBC news affiliates surprised Angle at McCarran International Airport on Friday to ask her questions about national security and unemployment. Video footage shows the GOP Senate candidate telling the reporters she will answer questions once she is elected.

Hours later, Angle spokeswoman Ciara Matthews told the news stations they are no longer invited to the election night party.

The incident referred to here is outlined in this post, when Angle said she would answer questions on national security and diplomacy "when I'm the Senator" -- that is, after she is elected. During that same interview of sorts, Angle answered a question about the two wars the country is fighting: "You know, the two wars that we're in right now, is exactly what we're in."

The TPM Poll Average gives angle a lead of 49.7%-46.4% over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

NV-SEN

Angle To Reporter: I'll Answer Questions 'When I'm The Senator' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 4:42PM

Sharron Angle and KLAS-TV reporter Nathan Baca

Nathan Baca, the local CBS affiliate reporter in Las Vegas who has made a good career this year of chasing around Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle and attempting in vain to get her to answer his questions, has just posted another gem.

As Baca's latest segment shows, he intercepted Angle at McCarran International Airport, and tried to ask her questions about national security and diplomacy, such as her calls for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations, and who would be our country's willing allies.

Angle answered: "I think when it comes to major policy issues, the people of Nevada are most concerned about our jobs, our homes and our economy."

"But if you want to be one of 100 U.S. Senators that are going to be deciding on war powers and on ratifying treaties, which is what a Senator has to do, you have to answer these questions."

"Well, certainly," said Angle. "And I'll answer those questions when I'm the Senator."

Read more »

NV-SEN

Angle-Backers' Flyer To Retirees: 'Your Lifespan' Depends On Voting Against Reid

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 4:08PM

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sharron Angle (R)

Wow, the rhetoric among Republican Sharron Angle's supporters is getting really intense in the home stretch of the Nevada Senate race. As Jon Ralston reports, a group of Angle-backers put together a flyer and distributed it throughout the Sun City Summerlin retirement community -- apparently coming from a board member of the community association -- that resurrected the "death panels" smear to warn that a vote for Democrat Harry Reid could kill these elderly voters.

The message carries a disclaimer that it was not authorized by any candidate. And I should add that the overall sloppiness does make it seem like an independent, amateur job.

Key quote:

Your Lifespan
will depend on what you do on
November 2, 2010

Harry Reid voted for and pushed through the $1.1 trillion government-run healthcare takeover that has "Benefit Panels" for our seniors. These panels will decide if you get needed medical treatment, in part based on age, even if your doctor says it is medically necessary in order to save your life. If the panel decides no...that means your life will not be saved, just like in Canada, England, France, Denmark, etc. Do you want Harry Reid's government bureaucrats to make these life and death decisions for you and your family?

Read more »

NV-SEN

Reid Ad: Angle Is A 'Pathological' Liar (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 2:57PM

A TV ad from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), "Running"

Harry Reid has a new ad in the Nevada Senate race, taking on his Republican opponent Sharron Angle's pattern of dodging the press -- and going further, citing the Nevada press calling her a "pathological" liar.

The ad opens with a video clip of Angle walking quickly away from reporters. "She ran from reporters, and now she's running from the truth," the announcer says. "Lying about Harry Reid in ads called 'misleading' and 'false.' Angle is so dishonest, the press calls her 'pathological.'"

The ad then shows a video clip of Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston, apparently commenting on the Reid-Angle debate from two weeks ago: "Angle frequently twisted the truth -- which she's done this entire campaign."

Then the announcer comes back. "Harry Reid? Worked his way up, never forgot who he's fighting for. Creating thousands of jobs, and clean energy, tourism, mining.

"Harry Reid: fighting for us. Sharron Angle: pathological."

The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 49.7%-46.4%.

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NV-SEN

Mason-Dixon Poll: Angle Leads Reid By 4 Points

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 9:30AM

NV-SEN candidates Sharron Angle (R) and Harry Reid (D)

The new Mason-Dixon poll of the Nevada Senate race has Republican nominee Sharron Angle expanding her narrow lead against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The numbers: Angle 49%, Reid 45%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error. In the previous poll from two weeks ago, Angle led by 48%-46%.

As the Las Vegas Review Journal, which commissioned the poll, reports on the internals: "The survey shows both Reid and Angle having most of their party bases, with the incumbent picking up 84 percent of Democrats and the GOP challenger 85 percent of Republicans. But Angle is winning the all-important independent voters by double digits, 55 percent to 38 percent, as Nevadans not aligned with either major political party swing her way as they settle on a choice."

The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 49.7%-46.4%.

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NV-SEN

Angle Ad: 'They Promised Change -- Now, It's Our Turn' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2010, 2:36PM

From a Sharron Angle campaign ad, "Our Turn"

Republican Sharron Angle's new ad in the Nevada Senate race makes a simple pitch against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: Reid and the Democrats have wrecked the country since President Obama was elected, the ad says, and it's "our turn" for voters to get back at them.

"They promised change," the announcer says, as the screen shows Reid, President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "But they delivered unprecedented spending, overwhelming debt, heartbreaking job loss, astounding foreclosures, skyrocketing bankruptcies.

"They promised change -- now, it's our turn."

Note the on-screen text, "Send Washington a message," basing a vote for Angle as being against the Democrats, rather than coming up with a genuine reason to vote in favor of Angle. Both of the candidates in this race are so unpopular with the voters, that they're basing their pitches more on being in opposition to each other. (Though this is even more true on Angle's side than it is for Reid, who has included some positive pitches mixed in with his anti-Angle spots.)

The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 49.6%-46.6%.

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NV-SEN

Reid To Maddow: Wear A Disguise Like Angle Does And Maybe You'll Score Interview (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2010, 1:14PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show

During an interview yesterday with Rachel Maddow, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) offered the liberal TV host an idea for how she could land an interview with his Republican opponent, the very inaccessible Sharron Angle: Dress up like Bill O'Reilly.

Maddow ended the interview on a joke question: "Do you have any suggestions for me on how I can get Sharron Angle to talk to me while I'm here in Vegas?"

"Maybe you should do what she does," said Reid. "Pretend you're somebody else."

Maddow and Reid then talked about the possibility of a disguise. "Maybe you could dress up as Bill O'Reilly," Reid said.

It's possible that Reid might have been referring to the Republican Angle campaign's recent use of decoys for Angle to dodge a crowd of reporters -- one of her more creative means to avoid answering questions from anyone other than conservative media venues that she can use to raise money.

The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 49.6%-46.6%.

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