Harry Reid on the Attack, but Still Lags Sharron Angle in Polls

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is targeting his Republican opponent Sharron Angle's more extreme positions in his latest campaign ad -- a theme that may be resonating with Nevada voters, but so far not enough to give Reid the lead in the race.

The Reid campaign this week unveiled a new ad focusing on Angle's interest in phasing out Social Security and Medicare. The ad features Edward Coyle of the Alliance for Retired Americans saying that Angle's likening of Social Security to welfare is "insulting" and says her interest in eliminating the entitlement programs is "crazy."

A NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll released this week shows that, at least on a national level, voters are uncomfortable with Angle's positions. Just 9 percent of voters say they would be enthusiastic about a candidate who advocated for privatizing Social Security, while an additional 15 percent said they were comfortable with the idea. As many as 48 percent said they were "very uncomfortable" with the idea, while another 18 percent said that position gave them "some reservations." Voters also said they uncomfortable with the idea of abolishing the Department of Education, another idea Angle supports.

Angle has been hounded by the opposition, as well as the media, about her more extreme views and her hesitancy to talk about them to the press.

Perhaps taking a cue from a fellow Tea Party favorite, Sarah Palin, Angle appears to be giving her side of the story via Facebook. She clarified her position on Social Security in a Facebook note yesterday, in which she uses a term made famous by Al Gore 10 years ago - "lockbox."

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"My plan has always been to save Social Security for those who have paid in good faith into a lockbox that has an IOU in it," she wrote. "Going forward we need to consider Social Security and Medicare on a personalized basis and the reason that we are moving toward personalization is to keep the government from raiding our retirement, raiding our healthcare."

Today, Angle addresses another story that has hounded her in a Facebook note called "My Position on Scientology and Massages for Inmates."

She clarifies that while she did as a state legislator review a program aimed at cutting prison recidivism that involved massages and other detoxification methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard, it was not a Scientology trip, and the review did not lead to any legislation or changes in government programs. Reid highlighted Angle's interest in the program in an earlier ad.

But Angle still leads Reid in the latest poll. A Rasmussen poll released yesterday shows Angle leading Reid by 48 percent to 41 percent. Furthermore, a majority of Nevadans favor repealing health care reform, one of the most significant pieces of legislation Reid helped push through.

Yet while Reid is very unpopular in the state -- 49 percent give him an unfavorable rating -- nearly as many (47 percent) find Angle unfavorable.

Reid's unpopularity in the state could explain why his son, Rory Reid, isn't mentioning his last name in his own campaign for governor. Rory Reid launched his first advertisement this week that features small children and emphasizes his education platform. The ad instructs viewers to "download Rory's education plan" at the website Rory2010.com. Reid never says his last name in the ad.

Rory Reid's last name is also missing from the home page of his website, and the biography page.

"As Chairman of the Clark County Commission Rory has managed a budget bigger than the state's general fund for seven years, balanced it every year, and never raised taxes," the bio reads. "Rory, 47, grew up in Nevada attending public schools, as do his three great kids."

[antoniososa]

One more reason to vote for Angle! She will help us REPEAL the job-killing, economy-killing, freedom-killing Obamacare scam.

The progressive propaganda machine, financed with billions by Marxists and U.S. enemies, is used to FOOL people. It FOOLED people into voting for a U.S. hating Marxist like Obama.

It is now being used to try to make us forget how much Reid has harmed us and to make us believe that that a smart, courageous, honest and patriotic woman like Sharron Angle is a fool.

Fortunately, Americans are waking up. Most understand that, if progressives say Angle is really bad, she must be really good.

In fact, Angle is great!

The more progressives demonize Angle, the more they convince us to vote for Angle.

We'll vote for Angle!

[dagoteaparty]

Id rather vote for Ronald McDonald than harry the piece of garbage reid. I cant stand any of these politicians who kiss obama butt. The whole administration is so far over reaching and so aiming for a government dependent America is plain as day. Watch out harry reid. Your done kook. Go home.

[deschl]

omg this witch is nuts, and nevada must be nuts to vote her in especially the lazy unemployed people, omg, wish i could vote there cause if you touch my mom's social security i personally will move to nevada to get you out

[catherine1956]

Sharon Angle is so stupid. She says the most bizarre things. No wonder the Republicans insisted she have a make over. She keeps saying unemployment pays as much as getting a job, She does not even know that not all those on unemployment make the big $393.00 per week , the max in Nevada. So many only get like 150.00 to 225.00 per week. Gosh you want to be a Senator and you dont know that. Also she has no Math skills. If there are 1 jobs available for every 6 people looking, what jobs is she talking about when she states "The unemployed just dont want to get a job, there are lots of jobs out there? Really Sharron? Really? How do you figure that? Can you explain. Also Social Security is not Welfare, please Republican party get Sharron Angle to study up on politics and the government. She doesnt seem to know anything.....I could go on but should I have to, come on what is Sharon Angle doing running for U.S. Senator????

[HEARTSOFPALM]

Harry Reid is desperate to retain his seat and will stop at nothing to smear Sharron any way he can. Why do people believe everything he says, when he lied his way through the Health Care Bill. He was so desperate to get it through that no matter what it took he was determined to shove it through and down our throats while lying his way through the process knowing full well the majority of the American people were against it. It WILL be detrimental to the country and to the people, time will tell. Reid is a typical millionaire progressive whose only agenda is his own and his corrupt party who are hell bent on bringing this country to its knees, irrespective of who they hurt in the process. It is time the liberal media quit protecting this corrupt White House and start reporting the facts. Do you really want to add to the unemployment numbers, do you really want to see this country flail and ultimately be controlled by a Marxist government? Well, this is where we're headed so it's time to wake up!!

[catherine1956]

We dont have to believe everything Harry Reid says regarding Sharon Angle, she says it all herself. Puts her foot in her mouth everytime she opens it..She doesnt seem to have a clue about the real world...Totally oblivious...

[TLW2010]

I don?t understand the whole smaller government argument coming from people who want to be a member of that, which they oppose. In fact, it seems rather odd unless they plan to unravel the system from the inside out. I also, don?t understand a keep government out attitude, oh except of course if you are raped and want to abort the baby, well then of course the govt. should step in. This is scary talk coming from people running for public office and I think it?s time we stop letting them win elections of any kind.

[papayaaaa]

sorry Nevada!!!!!

You are stuck voting for the lesser of two evils.

Harry Reid is not so hot and Sharron Angle is a nut job, head case.

I feel for ya!!!!!!!!!

[NEVADAWOLFPCK]

Pinky Reid is a traitor to NEVADA. He has sipped on the OBAMA KOOLAID for the last time and the citizen will ensure he is retired back to Search Light NV. where he can spend his days getting old sipping coffee in the diner. He is a con artist out for his own pocket. Look in to the wind farms he wants to put in eastern NV. Who own the property? He is a traitor to NV which now leads the Nation in unemployment as well as home forclosures. Now all his clout in congress he can't even get a aide bill passed to help NV. Reid is POISON to NV and his son realizesn it, he will not even USE his daddies last name when running ads for his Governor bid

[todayisthetime]

Harry Reid was the only lawmaker in Nevada with enough courage to take on the mob. He has finally found that voice in taking on the mob that parades as Americans in senate. And for all real americans that republican majority in the senate and the white house in 2001 took 411 days to investigate 911. Give em hell Harry. We support you.

[bts321]

Mr. Reid even you son has stopped using is last name in his election ads. Doesn't that tell you something or are you so out of touch with reality that you are even missing the message being sent by your son Rory. We ARE SICK AND TIRED OF ALL OF THE REIDS..... PACK YOUR OFFICE BECAUSE YOUR POLITICAL CAREER IN THE SENATE WILL COME TO AN END THIS NOVEMBER WHEN YOU ARE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE. But think positive, after you are voted out, you can spend time with your buddy Obama. But not in Las Vegas, because your buddy Obama hates Las Vegas and told people not to waste their money here.

Navada has the highes foreclosure rate and unemployment rate thanks to you and Obama.