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Reid distances himself from group attacking Lowden
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid on Wednesday distanced himself from a Democratic Party front group running ads against Republican Sue Lowden, who accused the incumbent of letting his allies attack her to ensure she loses the GOP primary to Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle.
"I, of course, have no relationship with any PAC that's running ads, period," Reid said of the Patriotic Majority Political Action Committee commercials. "So I don't know about that spot at all."
Reid's comments came in response to a question as he cast his ballot at the Clark County Government Building during the early voting period that ends Friday, four days before Tuesday's primary.
The Senate majority leader faces little real opposition in the Democratic primary, but the GOP contest is too close to call with Lowden and Angle in a dead heat, followed by Danny Tarkanian.
In the new TV ad by the Patriotic Majority, which is run by former Reid staffer Craig Varoga, Lowden is slammed for voting as a state senator in the early 1990s for taxes and fees, including a $100 charge for non-combat veterans to be buried in veterans cemeteries.
"Sue's record on taxes is out of touch and outrageous," says the 30-second spot.
The Patriotic Majority's first anti-Lowden ad in May was devastating, making fun of her for saying people could barter for health care and for noting people gave doctors chickens in the old days.
Lowden's gaffe partly cost the former state Republican Party chief the GOP front-runner position.
This time, Lowden fired back immediately after the ad went up. She accused Reid of trying to take her out of the Republican running because he's afraid she'll be a stronger general election opponent than Angle, a staunch conservative who fought taxes and excess spending as a Reno assemblywoman.
"I find it desperate and pathetic that Harry Reid and his liberal allies have attacked me," Lowden said in a conference call with reporters.
She said she backed the proposed $100 fee for non-combat veterans, which failed to pass, because she thought the money was needed to give the burial places "the care they deserved."
Going on the offensive, Lowden smacked Reid for once saying the Iraq war "was lost," remarks the GOP has vilified in the past and that his opponents bring up to bruise his pro-military record.
"Harry Reid has become a homegrown enemy of our troops and our families," Lowden said. 'Harry Reid has turned his back on U.S. soldiers just as he turned his back on Nevada."
Reid dismissed Lowden's latest line of attack and said he wasn't worried about attempts by his Republican foes to criticize him in a concerted effort to block his re-election to a fifth term.
"They have been running ads against me in the state of Nevada for more than a year," Reid said when asked if he was worried about being in the GOP cross hairs.
As for his record on veterans issues, Reid noted several of his accomplishments, bringing home $100 million in funding for various facilities in Nevada this year alone.
"So my record with the military is one that I'm very proud of," Reid said.
Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.
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How is bringing a candidates voting record up an attack? She voted for the $100 tax on veteran burials and it is VERY unpopular.... She made her chicken barter comments, so how is that an attack? An attack is making something up, not using facts. If facts = attack then ANY political ad is an attack ad, and any media question is a "gotcha".
Harry Reid is not afraid of Chicken Lowden. Harry Reid wants dumb republicans to think he is afraid of Chicken Lowden so dumb republicans will vote for her.
Harry Reid will fry Sue Lowden like a chicken wing in November.
That's the Chicago way Harry, organize an attack then disavow its tasteless tacky ways.
Nevada knows who you are Harry.
Sue Lowden choked on the chicken but she blames Harry? For what? It wasn't Harry's chicken Lowden choked on. She's delusional. Oh well, GIVE 'EM HELL, HARRY!
Now Reid comes out and says he doesn't approve of the Political Action Committee ad about Sue Lowden and a chicken, where were you when this ad first came out, Reid. You want change on capital hill, you make changes at the top. Reid must go, he lost all sense of who his voters are, what is needed in Nevada and thinks he is the president of the U.S.. Lowden is the best choice, she is honest and understanding. She is open to ideas and knows what Nevada needs. Angle couldn't even beat Titus for congress. I do believe that Angle is a democrat hiding behind a republican apron.
Craig Varoga is scrubbing the web as fast as he can to remove any trace of his long term relationship with Harry Reid.
Guess he subscribes to the Sharron Angle school of website scrubbing.
Reid is proud of THIS RECORD???
With record unemployment of American citizens and hordes of illegal aliens invading our country, Reid has been on the wrong side every time.
The same weekend that 1200 Arizonans attended a funeral for a rancher murdered by illegal alien drug smugglers, good old Harry was leading a rally of illegal aliens and their supporters in Las Vegas, promising them swift action on "amnesty" ("Comprehensive Immigration Reform" for liberals and McCain). "Amnesty" equals the right to take jobs from American citizens. Wrong side, Harry.
And when it comes time to lead the Senate -- remember these numbers: 407 to 2.
Why are they important? They demonstrate how out of touch Reid is with America, how he is courting votes of future "legalized" illegal aliens, and how he is punishing American citizen workers. 407 to 2. Remember these numbers: 407 to 2.
In February, 2009, the House passed an amendment that required all the billions or trillions (hard to keep the comma in the right place these days!) of federal stimulus money (i. e. American taxpayers' hard-earned dollars) to be spent on contracts with companies that used E-verify, so as to ensure that all those $$$$ would eventually go to American citizens, too many of whom are unemployed.
What did the majority leader of the Senate do? He ignored the wishes of the American people, as expressed through their elected representatives by an overwhelming 407 to 2 vote, and BLOCKED all attempts to have a vote on a similar amendment in the Senate.
Result: Billions of our taxes intentionally spent by Harry Reid on jobs for ILLEGAL ALIENS.
You can thank Harry (TOAST) Reid in November by remembering these numbers: 407 to 2.
"In the new TV ad by the Patriotic Majority, which is run by former Reid staffer Craig Varoga..."
Is there anyone who actually believes there's no collusion and/or collaboration here? It's a slam dunk case of Harry working with former staffers to influence this primary in the favor.
Why? Because they desperately don't want to face Sue Lowden in November...
Too bad for them that Republican primary voters can see through their thin guise and see the truth.
So Harry is proud of his record, seems like he is the only one and come November he may just find out he is alone..Bye Bye Harry