Las Vegas Review-Journal - The Political Eye

U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden energized a GOP-packed crowd in Pahrump Tuesday night by declaring that the stunning Democratic Senate seat loss in Massachusetts spells doom for Sen. Harry Reid.

"We started in Massachusetts tonight and we're going to finish in November by defeating Harry Reid," Lowden shouted at a stop on her rural Nevada bus tour.

The room at Wulfy's sports lounge erupted into applause as results of the special election played on a big screen TV over the bar. Lowden stepped onto a chair so she could be heard over the din.

The former state senator told the gathering of about 130 people that she knew they were trying to decide which Republican candidate to pick to go against Reid in the general election. And she said: "I'm in it to win."

Lowden is facing strong GOP competition from former UNLV basketball star and businessman Danny Tarkanian. Ex-Assemblywoman Sharron Angle also is seen as a dark horse candidate in a crowded field.

Reid is seeking his fifth term but is in political peril because he is seen by critics as too close to Washington and President Barack Obama's liberal agenda.

BELOW IS A LOWDEN STATEMENT

"I am thrilled to learn that Scott Brown has become the next senator from Massachusetts.  His win – in one of the most Democrat-dominant states in the union – demonstrates how far out of touch, controversial and unpopular Harry Reid’s policies of higher taxes, higher debt and higher unemployment are for the nation.

"We were happy to donate phone lines from our campaign office in Las Vegas so people in Nevada could make get-out-the-vote calls to voters in Massachusetts.

"This is an historic victory for real, common-sense solutions and yet another resounding wake-up call to Harry Reid.  We can only wonder if he will finally decide to listen."