Harry Reid's Nightmare: 13.1% Las Vegas Unemployment

HARRY REID is already on the ropes for his 2010 re-election campaign. Per local Nevadan polls as of August 11th Reid was 6 points behind undeclared Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden.

Aug. 11, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Poll: Reid would lose if Lowden were to run

By BENJAMIN SPILLMAN
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Republican Sue Lowden would defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by 6 percentage points in a head-to-head matchup, according to a poll of likely Nevada voters.

Unfortunately for Reid-bashers, Lowden isn't running -- at least not yet.

On Monday, Lowden supporters, including political strategist Robert Uithoven, disclosed the results of a poll commissioned as part of an effort to persuade the Nevada Republican Party chairwoman to run, especially if Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., decides not to challenge Reid.

The poll by Denver-based Vitale & Associates was conducted July 29-30 and showed that 48 percent of respondents favored Lowden to 42 percent for Reid. Ten percent were undecided. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Of the 510 poll respondents, 44 percent identified themselves as Democrats, 38 percent as Republicans, 15 percent as independent or non-partisan, and 3 percent declined to state an affiliation.

The findings reaffirm the notion that Reid is in trouble in his home state, despite expectations that he will raise as much as $25 million to maintain his grip on the seat, said those behind the poll.

"Sue would have plenty of money to win this race," Uithoven said. "She doesn't have $25 million, but she wouldn't need it."

Pollster Todd Vitale said the most telling numbers might be the ones related to Reid.

More recently released unemployment figures show Nevada with an overall unemployment rate of 12%. Las Vegas itself has been hammered, taking a staggering official joblessness hit of 13.1%. No doubt Harry's good friend Barack contributed in part to the jobs collapse when, back in the spring, BOTUS demonized corporations for holding shindigs in Las Vegas. If there is no substantial improvement in Nevada employment numbers by the Fall of 2010, I think Harry's gonna have to find a new job.