Democrat Reid struggles in Nevada vote: Reuters/Ipsos poll

Reuters ^ | 9/14/2010 | Steve Holland

[Qbert]

(Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid is fighting for his political life against a Republican "Tea Party" candidate in Nevada in one of the most closely watched U.S. elections this year, a Reuters/Ipsos poll said on Tuesday.

Among America's most powerful politicians, Reid finds himself locked in a close contest at home, leading 46 percent to 44 percent among likely voters over Sharron Angle, a former substitute schoolteacher who was almost unknown until several months ago.

Tea Party-backed candidates like Angle have done well in Republican primaries this year with calls for lower taxes and smaller government. The Tea Party movement is a loose-knit group of Americans concerned about government spending and debt who are proving to be influential in this unpredictable election season.

The tough race faced by veteran Reid highlights the difficulties for incumbents of both parties at the November 2 congressional elections and the dangers for Democrats like him who are closely identified with President Barack Obama's policies.

Reid's lead in the poll was within the margin of error for likely voters of 4.6 percentage points, making his position even more tenuous.

Americans on November 2 will choose 435 members of the House of Representatives and 37 of the 100-member U.S. Senate. Republicans anticipate big gains and need to pick up 39 seats to win the House and 10 seats for a Senate majority.

The sputtering U.S. economy is far and away the most important issue in Nevada, with 76 percent of those surveyed citing it as an important topic and only 20 percent saying Nevada is heading in the right direction.

[Tzimisce]

He needs to get out there and remind everyone who wants to raise taxes, who took their healthcare, etc.

DailyKos says voters love all of that stuff. :)

[normy]

The Tea Party movement is a loose-knit group of Americans concerned about government spending and debt who are proving to be influential in this unpredictable election season.

Finally a proper description

[fwdude]

It would be so sweet if a Tea Party candidate could beat the Marxist Senate Majority Leader (soon to be former.)

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Among America's most powerful politicians, Reid finds himself locked in a close contest at home, leading 46 percent to 44 percent among likely voters over Sharron Angle, a former substitute schoolteacher who was almost unknown until several months ago.... The sputtering U.S. economy is far and away the most important issue in Nevada, with 76 percent of those surveyed citing it as an important topic and only 20 percent saying Nevada is heading in the right direction“

If Reid wins it will be a sign that the system is broken and further proof we need congressional term limits.

[Jvette]

If I was Sharron Angle’s manager my response to the charge of being an extremist would have been this....

“Harry Reid says that I am an extremist. Well, when this great country was formed, the concept of self governance was extreme. Never in history had a country been formed that allowed the common citizenry to decide the size and scope of its government. Never in history had the concept of a government of the people, by the people and for the people been proposed. If the concepts of self governance through constitutional law and of individual responsibility and rewards is extreme, then the Founding Fathers of this nation were extremists and I consider myself in good company.”

Sharron needs to be bold. She can win if she decides the direction of the debate and holds to the simple principles of our founding.

[CharlesMartelsGhost]

[SeattleBruce]

The trend is our friend.

RCP Average 9/7 - 9/14 — 45.3 44.5 Reid +0.8
CNN/Time 9/10 - 9/14 789 LV 41 42 Angle +1
Rasmussen Reports 9/13 - 9/13 750 LV 48 48 Tie
Reuters/Ipsos 9/10 - 9/12 463 LV 46 44 Reid +2
LVRJ/Mason-Dixon 9/7 - 9/9 625 LV 46 44 Reid +2