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Most people aren't aware that Harry Reid is considered a conservative Democrat. The problem with Harry Reid has never been that he's a liberal, but rather his extreme partisanship. It looks like this may be hurting him at home.

On a personal note, I've spent some time in Reid's old haunts in small town Nevada. I can only say that if Reid's national supporters ever showed up there, they'd likely get their asses kicked.

Las Vegas Sun:

Sen. Harry Reid, once a fairly obscure conservative Democrat from the small state of Nevada, is all the buzz inside the Beltway lately - unfortunately for him, it's the Washington and not the Las Vegas Beltway....

But Reid's national stature among activist Democrats, concentrated on the blue-state coasts, carries risks for him at home, analysts say. His consistent opposition to President Bush and his need to mollify the liberals in his party is costing him in Nevada, where polls show he has lost support since becoming minority leader.

Although Reid, who won re-election in 2004 and still has four years in his term, said in an interview that he pays no attention to polls, his actions in Nevada during the two-week Easter recess suggested that he is keenly aware of his vulnerabilities. He spoke to groups that carry at least a patina of conservatism - chambers of commerce, police and firefighters, religious groups, military men and women, district attorneys.

Reid touted national security, faith-based solutions and anti-gang measures. In front of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, he reminded the audience of his support last year for legislation long sought by conservatives that made it harder to declare bankruptcy.

And yet, in the conflict Reid faces - between his more conservative Nevada roots and his new coastal liberal friends - he struggled to quell his bluest, Democratic instincts, launching a shot at Bush at the chamber event.

"How can Republicans support somebody who's running us into the ground like this?"

In the meantime, let me remind my Searchlight Nevada readers that's it's not polite to slash the tires of hybrid cars. Even when the guy driving it has a ponytail.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:53 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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