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Reid earns, spends $2 million
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Harry Reid
Senator has a commanding fundraising edge over any of his potential Republican opponents
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 10:48 a.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid raised and spent $2 million in the final three months of the year, increasing the amount he's raised so far to win re-election to more than $15 million.
The numbers disclosed Friday show Reid has raised more cash than any politician in Nevada history, but it still might not be enough to woo voters who have soured on his job performance.
"I don't think Senator Reid is going to lose because he doesn't have enough money," said Nathan Gonzales of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. "But I think there are some problems that can't be fixed with more campaign cash."
Reid's favorable rating with Nevada voters was just 33 percent compared to 52 percent unfavorable in the most recent statewide survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. The same survey showed Nevadans favored any of three potential Republican challengers, Las Vegas businessman Danny Tarkanian, casino owner and former Nevada GOP chairwoman Sue Lowden, and former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, to Reid in head-to-head matchups.
"That is a difficult hole for incumbents to dig out of," said Gonzales, who currently ranks Reid's Senate seat vulnerable to Republican takeover.
Reid's campaign has a different take.
They say the prodigious fundraising shows Reid will have the resources to win in November.
"Our campaign is fully operational and ready to ensure Senator Reid will continue his work creating jobs and getting Nevada's economy back on track as leader of the Senate," said Brandon Hall, Reid's campaign manager.
The campaign opened a new Las Vegas headquarters in December and has already launched a round of television ads to burnish Reid's image as a public servant.
In the fourth quarter Reid reported raising nearly $1.9 million in total contributions and total operating expenditures of $2 million. He ended the year with almost $8.7 million cash-on-hand. Reid's total contributions raised for the year was $15,009,489.
That's more than double the approximately $6.3 million Gov. Jim Gibbons raised for his winning campaign in 2006 and more than the $11.1 million that campaign Web site OpenSecrets.org reported Reid raised with his campaign and political action committee for the 2004 election cycle.
"It is an impressive number," said Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Duffy said a more interesting number was the amount of money Reid spent. She said it shows the campaign is already hard at work laying a foundation and spending as much money as it takes in.
"It is a lot of money to spend at this point in the cycle," she said.
Complete Senate finance reports weren't available Friday on the Web site of the Federal Election Commission. But Tarkanian has reported raising $650,329 so far with $257,135 cash on hand. Lowden has said she's raised about $800,000 so far. Angle reported $582,941 including $368,941 in the fourth quarter and $96,100 cash on hand. Investment banker John Chachas has raised $1.9 million, which includes $1.3 million of his own money and $594,861 in contributions with $1.7 million cash on hand.
University of Nevada, Reno political science professor Eric Herzik said the money advantage gives Reid a huge head start organizing for the fall.
"It may not buy love but it will buy you a lot of on-the-ground organization," Herzik said.
Herzik cited the 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama as an example.
Obama raised unprecedented sums of money and used it to arm volunteers with voter lists, demographic information and every other tool needed to campaign effectively.
For example, Obama volunteers showed up at Herzik's house in a Republican neighborhood specifically to speak with his son. It showed the volunteers were so well trained they knew not only where to find younger voters but what to say when they found one.
"They turned one of my kids who was a Republican," Herzik said.
Even though the Republican who emerges to challenge Reid probably will see an infusion of millions of dollars from around the country, he or she will still be at a disadvantage, Herzik said.
"Let's say that starts occurring in July. First off they have to collect it and start spending it," he said. "It is not a fatal disadvantage but it is a disadvantage in time. And campaigns run on a relatively short timetable."
Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki made his strongest statements to date Friday about a possible challenge to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but stopped short of declaring himself a candidate.
Krolicki said the fact he won Clark County and "every precinct" in Washoe County during the 2006 election for lieutenant governor shows he is a strong statewide candidate, despite the fact Reid has raised more than $15 million and is expected to raise $10 million more to keep his seat.
"I believe I can beat Senator Reid," Krolicki said. "We need someone who can win."
Krolicki, a Republican, said defeating what he called an "absurd political prosecution" by Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, made him stronger.
"I'm a proven survivor of the most brutal partisan attack possible," Krolicki said of criminal charges related to a college savings fund program he oversaw.
No money was unaccounted for and the case was dismissed in December.
Krolicki has acknowledged for weeks he would consider a challenge to Reid, despite a crowded field of Republicans already campaigning that includes Las Vegas businessman Danny Tarkanian, casino owner and former Nevada GOP chairwoman Sue Lowden, former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle and investment banker John Chachas.
"People are tired of the dark side of politics. I'm going to talk about issues," Krolicki said while discussing the prosecution and early negative campaigning in the Republican primary. "The sniping I currently see between some of the candidates is unappealing and disappointing."
He said he will make a decision within a few weeks when he has a better idea of potential financial, endorsement and staffing situations.
Statements by Krolicki and national leaders such as Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, about the Republican primary have generated rebukes from former Nevada Gov. Bob List, now a Republican national committeeman.
List said Krolicki should resist suggestions -- including those from Cornyn and other national Republican bigwigs -- to join the fray seeking to challenge Reid.
"I think he is way too late trying to get into this race," List said.
While Krolicki was coping with the criminal case, many other candidates, including current leaders Tarkanian and Lowden entered the race.
"Other people relied on that withdrawal and put themselves forward," List said. He added there were potential candidates who eschewed a run for lieutenant governor out of deference to Krolicki.
"It is a bit disingenuous to suggest that he now ought to change course and run for the Senate," List said.
When asked whether it would be a disingenuous move by Krolicki, List responded he was referring to "those encouraging him to do it."
Krolicki fired back, accusing List of working on behalf of Lowden, something Lowden consultant Robert Uithoven denied is the case.
"We don't give anyone marching orders," Uithoven said. "Bob List can speak for himself."
Still, he said he thinks the notion that Krolicki should not enter the race "is an opinion that is shared by a number of other people in the state."
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
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Reid's campaign spending is good for the economy, but... it wont get him elected wrote on January 30, 2010 09:40 AM:
An old Beatles tune comes to mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHBt3vnmn3E
But, Steam sang it best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaTElBljOE
--====================================
Here is another song that comes to mind when you mentioned Harry Reid. Such a fitting little tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miH1aTqhK3k
I'd ask Harry to bribe me like he did with 2 certain senators to get the votes for the health care bill, but the only vote I have is the one I'll cast in November to get rid of him. I hope many other Nevada voters do what I plan to do and vote for the other guy. Reid doesn't have enough money in his "war chest" to guarantee every voter several million dollars, for perpetuity, to buy their votes like he did for health care.
@Hey Tommyboy... During the ending years of the Eastern Mob in Nevada, Harry Reid was in charge of the Gaming Control Board. He had at his fingertips the premiere background investigation apparatus in the Nation. The results of these investigations wewre his property he was not bound to share them with anyone. Just imagine the power that could be misguidedly derived from that situation. Lefty Rosenthal claimed Harry Reid had promised him his gaming license, but reniged. Mr. Cleanface was the FBI codename for Harry Reid. Follow, Lefty Rosenthal, Tony Spilatro. Tony Spilatro attorney, Oscar Goodman. City Mayor wants to run for Governor, on the Dem ticket against the County Commission Chairman RORY REID.Big surprise when Oscar abruptly changes his mind. Harry Reid has a political infr4astructure in place that is number one in corruption, greed and callosness. RORY IS REID, REID IS GREED. GET RID OF GREED, GET RID OF REID Do not be confused, RORY is REID
ALL THAT MONEY WILL NOT HELP HARRY
PS: THE BARN IN 2010
THE RANCH IN 2012