Obama's Cabinet Visits Reid Country

Members of the Obama Administration Have Made Numerous Trips to Nevada, Ahead of Sen. Harry Reid's Tough Reelection Campaign

(AP)  The travel industry may be hurting in Las Vegas these days but not for lack of visits from members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet.

Attorney General Eric Holder was the ninth Cabinet member to visit Nevada during the past six months. Holder and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., toured facilities on Saturday designed to help law enforcement officers respond to security threats.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have also attended fundraisers in Nevada for Reid.

White House officials say the trips helped Obama's top aides fulfill their particular job responsibilities. Republicans say all the attention shows the administration is leaving little to chance when it comes to helping Reid win a fifth term in office.

The visit from Holder underlined a theme that Reid has been trying to impress upon Nevadans: He's in the position to ensure Nevada gets its fair share of federal resources. Reid reminded Nevadans that he helped secure money for the counterterrorism center and that law enforcement agencies in the state got $23 million through the $787 billion economic stimulus bill.

In July, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined Reid to announce the extension of a high-speed rail corridor from California to Las Vegas, which makes states eligible for federal funding to eliminate hazardous grade crossings. In June, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar joined Reid to talk about steps taken to speed up the development of solar energy.

Other visitors include Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, who toured parts of Las Vegas hit hard by high foreclosure rates, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who was learning about Nevada schools.

The trips show Reid's re-election prospects are shaky, said Brian Walsh, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

"The Obama administration is doing everything it can to prop up Harry Reid's election numbers," Walsh said.

Liberals Open Fire on Harry Reid

A White House official said Nevada has been particularly hurt by the recession and that helping families keep their homes and health care is the president's top priority.

"The president will continue to send his Cabinet members to Nevada and across the country to find the best ways to repair our economy, reform our health insurance system and build upon Nevada's efforts to create green energy jobs," said White House spokesman Adam Abrams.

A Reid spokesman said the trips from Cabinet members were strictly working visits and that the transition to a Democratic administration partly explains all the attention the state is getting.

"They're out there to address the issues that are important to Nevadans. Sen. Reid, in many cases, has asked them to go out there to talk about these issues. We're fortunate because, in his position as majority leader, they frequently agree to make the trip," said Reid spokesman Jon Summers.

Summers bristled at the question of whether the trips were part of Reid's re-election strategy.

Eric Herzik, professor of political science at the University of Nevada-Reno, said he doesn't know whether the visits help Reid's political standing going into next year's election, but he says they can't hurt it.

"It draws attention to Nevada, a state that is often overlooked," Herzik said.

Herzik said he would also disagree with those who would say the trips amount to campaign visits.

"Given our reliance in some areas on the federal government, it makes sense. They should have been out here 20 years ago," Herzik said.

[sjc_1]

It is up to the people of Nevada to make this decision. If one of my senators was leader of the Senate, I would want that person to stay leader of the Senate. They need to do what is in their best interests and not fall victim to negative ads.

[williamhill2]

WHAT LEADER? WHERE? THIS GUY IS NOT IN CONTROL OF HIMSELF, MUCH LESS THE SENATE. STRONG PUBLIC OPTOIN NOW YOU DAMN FOOL.

[stn_sage]

It's obvious the Dems are making a maximum effort to try to get Mr. Reid reelected, but it may do them no good!

The Democrat party should have replaced him as Majority Leader...but if they won't...the public seems poised to do so!

Considering the number of seats the Dems hold in the Senate, they've really failed to take advantage of it...and most of what passes as approved bills and measures is for corporate America, not the public!

Mr. Reid heads this failure...the public is preparing HIS 'pink slip'!

[Questionews]

Stump a little, do a little gambling, rent a hooker or two. Yeah! Sound like a great time for our elected officials!

[speakinup04]

The way I hear it from relatives in Las Vegas, Reid is toast.

I would say that if he does fail in his re-election bid, that it would be sending a 'pretty strong' message to the President, considering Reid is the Majority Leader in the Senate.

I mean, what state doesn't want that sort of power in government ?

And they are ready to throw it away !?!

Time for a reality check, Harry and Barrack.

[hungry1968-16]

Pretty strong message for Obama?!?!

He's a pusssy!! Most democrats want him gone, and hope he loses the primary!!

[lindyb2]

Why are his cabinet traveling around when they should be working on protecting Americans who are dying of H1N1 because there was no preparation for vaccine manufacture and no vaccine available on the horizon until mid November?

Why are they traveling around when veterans and their families need help, especially since their loved ones are awaiting "Obama's plan" which he claims to be working on and won't be ready "for weeks" while troops are begging for backup?

Why are they choosing to travel to Las Vegas of all places and serve only a small minority of the population when they should be doing some actual work in their offices?

Has anyone told them yet that there is a serious recession and people are dying of a pandemic flu and in Afghanistan, awaiting for them to take action?