Nevada full of running Reids--Harry, Rory, both in trouble

October 15, 2009 | 7:14 pm

This week in Nevada, you couldn’t go anywhere without being reminded that a Reid is running for office.

Papa Harry, the Senate majority leader and a top Republican target, aired his first two commercials. “Hard Work” is a fairly traditional reminder of his up-from-Searchlight youth: Dad was a miner, Mom did laundry for a brothel and Harry hitchhiked to high school.

“Nevada Jobs,” is a little more unusual: Jim Murren, the CEO of MGM Mirage, talks about....

how Reid rescued the CityCenter project from bankruptcy. It sort of reminds us of a reality-show confessional, though more staid than those on “The Real World: Las Vegas.”

The underlying message: Nevada, I’m a mover and shaker. You want to go all South Dakota and give that up? Not the best idea, not in this economy.

Harry also announced that he’s raised $12 million, so expect a lot more commercials. Recent polls show the him in deep, deep trouble. So Vice President Joe Biden flies in Friday to help Harry in the Reno area.

Sue Lowden, former head of the state GOP, could beat him right now. Danny Tarkanian, son of a famous basketball coach, could beat him. We’re sure Garth Brooks could beat Reid, too, though his status as a Nevadan is about as shaky as John Chachas'.

Then there’s son Rory, who's widely considered smart and thoughtful, but apparently inherited his dad's (lack of) charisma and terrible polling. As of Wednesday, Rory is officially running for governor and testing Nevadans’ taste for dynasties. Already, he's blamed unpopular GOP Gov. Jim Gibbons for not securing enough stimulus money, to which a Gibbons aide essentially retorted: It’s your dad’s fault!
This could get real ugly for every Reid involved.

-- Ashley Powers

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