Nevada's U.S. Sen. Reid raises $6.2 million for re-election bid

Las Vegas Sun ^ | Jan. 30, 2004 | AP

[JohnnyZ]

Nevada's U.S. Sen. Reid raises $6.2 million for re-election bid CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has raised $6.2 million for his re-election bid, $1 million more than he collected during his entire 1998 campaign.

Reid, the Senate's assistant minority leader, announced his fund-raising total in filing his year-end financial disclosure statement with the Federal Election Commission. The total includes about $4.4 million from individual donors and the rest from political action committees.

The 2003 report shows Reid raised $1.1 million in the last three months of the year and now has $4.3 million cash on hand. The total collected compares with $5.1 million in contributions for his 1998 race - which he won with a razor-thin margin of 428 votes.

"It puts us right on track for the goal we laid out," Sean Sinclair, Reid's campaign manager, said Thursday.

The campaign, taking nothing for granted after the 1998 election, has set a $10 million fund-raising goal.

"You have a changing state, a lot of moving in and out of the state," said Sinclair. "It is going to be important that we're able to fund an aggressive grassroots campaign and go to everyone's door and talk to them about Sen. Reid's campaign."

Ted Jelen, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas political science professor, said Reid learned his lesson in 1998. "He's going to run full sprint from start to finish, even if the Republican candidate is Charles Manson," Jelen said.

Republican State Treasurer Brian Krolicki returned Wednesday from another trip to Washington, D.C., where he gauged support for a potential run. He's expected to announce his decision whether to run late next week.

Secretary of State Dean Heller and State Controller Kathy Augustine, both Republicans, also are weighing a bid.

Two other Republicans already have launched bids against Reid.

Richard Ziser, the former chairman of a group that led the successful effort to ban gay marriage in Nevada, has $121,000 cash on hand for the race and plans to invest $250,000 of his own money.

Ken Wegner, a disabled Gulf War combat veteran, plans to sell his land, personal watercraft and Harley-Davidson to pay for his campaign.

[JohnnyZ]

PING

Remember to check out Campaign Central from time to time.

Republican State Treasurer Brian Krolicki returned Wednesday from another trip to Washington, D.C., where he gauged support for a potential run. He's expected to announce his decision whether to run late next week.

Secretary of State Dean Heller and State Controller Kathy Augustine, both Republicans, also are weighing a bid.

[Pubbie]

Finally Krolicki is ready to make an announcement next week.

Krolicki has been meeting a lot of time with National GOP leaders in Washington - maybe this means he's ready to take the plunge?

[Pubbie]

*Ping*!

[Pubbie]

That should work in the GOP's favor - assuming Bush doesn't blow it by pushing Amnesty for Illegals in Congress...

[Salvation]

Reid needs to be defeated. He was a dead (and boring) air bag during the live fillibuster debate.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Ted Jelen, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas political science professor, said Reid learned his lesson in 1998. "He's going to run full sprint from start to finish, even if the Republican candidate is Charles Manson," Jelen said."

---

Charles Manson seems like a long-shot to win the nomination, but the way every other Republican with name recognition is dropping out he could have a chance in the primary against Woodcock and Brassballs and whoever else is running.

Krolicki is a pro-abort, right? I guess with Nevada Republicans it might not hurt him that much, but it would be a shame if he lost because that hypocrite Reid presented himself as more pro-life than the GOP nominee.

[Pubbie]

"Krolicki is a pro-abort, right? I guess with Nevada Republicans it might not hurt him that much, but it would be a shame if he lost because that hypocrite Reid presented himself as more pro-life than the GOP nominee."

Jim Gibbons is sort of ProAbortion too.

[Dan from Michigan]

I think Reid will have an easier ride this time. He all of a sudden is somewhat 'pro-gun'(BS, but I heard the NRA isn't going after him because of one or two favors).

[JohnnyZ]

All the Nevada statewide Republicans are pro-abort except Ensign.

[Pubbie]

That's what I thought - Nevada Republicans are used to voting for Pro-Abortion Republicans state-wide.

So abortion shouldn't hurt Krolicki - assuming he runs.

[Pubbie]

*Ping*!

Would you like to add anything about this race?

What's your opinion of Krolicki?

Thanks!

[Pubbie]

I have been told by a Nevada Freeper that Reid has some sort of Financial skeletons in his closet.

I forgot what exactly the scandal might be - but it's some sort of financial scandal.

[FastCoyote]

I don't have anything on Krolicki. But Richard Ziser is also keyed up to run and I know he is no Rino. Ziser was instrumental on prop 2, the marriage referendum. A long shot, but he may be more likely to throw the bombshells needed to defeat Reid. I have some small op research on Reid, but I know there is more. Krolicki should have already committed, I hate the Bush people at the moment, country clubbers I think.

[Pubbie]

I have been told by another Nevada Freeper that the National GOP is going to hit Reid over the head with charges of Corruption no matter who the nominee is.

He wasn't told what the NRC has on Reid except that the GOP will definitely use whatever they've got on him.

I think Krolicki will run because this is the 3rd or 4th time he has met with DC Republicans - that's just my opinion.

[Kuksool]

How would he nuclear waste issue and Kenny Guinn's love for tax hikes affect the 2004 election?

[Pubbie]

I don't think the Nuclear Waste has hurt Bush's polls in the state.

The Kenny Guinn tax hoopla will be more of a problem for the GOP - but this is still a solidly GOP state.

I'm not sure Krolicki is blamed for the tax hike by NV voters.

[FastCoyote]

I am actually the resident expert on neutralizing the nuclear waste issue vis a vis Harry Reid. I wrote 200,000 words on the subject working for ANEC. But I got blackballed and would need some funds to put it all out.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Reid frosts me. He's like Daschle, but only smoother, quieter, in that way that makes you feel he's putting one over on everyone.

Anyway, Reid should raise all the money he can, cause he'll need it. The Nevada airwaves should be flooded with ads showing how he blocked Bush's judges to promote judicial tyranny of people like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I doubt that will go over well with Nevada's Mormon population.