POLL: Reid's popularity plunges in own state of Nevada, rates poorer than Bush!

[Bluebear]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's appeal among Nevadans has plunged dramatically in a new Review-Journal poll, which finds him viewed unfavorably by most likely voters in his home state.

Reid is still slightly more well-liked than Gov. Jim Gibbons. Both the Democratic senator and the Republican governor are less favorably viewed than President Bush.

"Fortunately for Reid, he doesn't have to run for re-election for a while," said Brad Coker, managing partner of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., the Washington, D.C.-based firm that conducted the poll. If they decide to run again, Reid's name won't be on the ballot until 2010, nor will Gibbons'...

http://www.lvrj.com/news/10545847.html

[incapsulated]

1. I found this interesting and insightful...

University of Nevada, Las Vegas political scientist David Damore said Reid's position as top Democrat -- the first Nevadan to lead his party in the Senate -- continues to hurt him, as it makes him a punching bag for Republicans nationally. Especially now that Reid leads the majority party that is at odds with the White House, he is visible as never before.

"That's what happens to these guys who become the party spokesperson and get all the national attention, particularly someone who's coming from a state that's not as liberal as his party," Damore said.

Voters' opinion of Reid was starkly partisan. Just 2 percent of Republicans viewed him favorably, 90 percent unfavorably. Among Democrats, the numbers were 62 percent and 16 percent; with independents, they were 31 percent and 44 percent.

Basically, he is the leader of a party that isn't that well loved in his own state. And it's the republicans really driving down his numbers.

[Kagemusha]

2. So the fact only 62%of Democrats support him has nothing to do with it.

Ok. Check. Thank you.

[incapsulated]

4. No...

But that is still a good majority. Compared to 90% of repukes hating his guts.

You don't think suddenly being a national partisan figure, the representative of your party in a conservative state has anything to do with this? Cause if you imagine it's because he won't impeach Bush, it ain't.

[Kagemusha]

5. I don't see any data on how many Republicans supported Reid before.

If it's significantly more than 2%, well, I would find that somewhat surprising, but I can't support that guess with data so whatever.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. Impeachment won't hurt him with Republicans. Will it help him with Dems?

[Bluebear]

3. "Republicans Fear Nevada May Slip Away", though . . .

Conservative activist Chuck Muth has almost single-handedly persuaded Nevada Republicans to move their 2008 presidential caucus to the same day as the Democratic contest.

Asked Monday whether the Republicans are prepared for the enormous expense and organizing work necessary for a successful caucus, Muth said: "Absolutely not."

The state party is nearly broke, Muth said. It lives hand-to-mouth, without even enough funds in reserve to meet the next payroll, he added.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3345.html