‘Perfect storm’ could dash GOP’s bid to defeat Reid

Bob Jack, North Las Vegas

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 | 2:03 a.m.

Three candidates in the Republican U.S. Senate primary — Sue Lowden, Sharron Angle and Danny Tarkanian — are the undisputed front-runners in the pack to face Democrat Harry Reid in the November election.

For months the polls have been showing that any of these three candidates would defeat Reid in the general election. Nevertheless, something strange is in the making, and it’s not going to favor the Republicans.

Probably the most powerful candidate in a direct face-off against Reid is Lowden, because she appeals to the broadest base of voters. But the Lowden campaign is struggling, as Lowden has caved to criticism from Reid and Tarkanian and pressure from Angle.

Lowden has been on the defensive regarding her health care bartering scheme, her earlier campaign contributions to Harry Reid and her donated campaign van. These have diverted attention away from her positive aspects, causing her campaign to lose traction.

Angle, the conservative candidate, has been garnering endorsements from the likes of the national Tea Party Express and other conservatives and has closed in on Lowden from the right.

In reaction to Angle’s increasing strength, Lowden issued an attack ad against her. It was not a smart move on Lowden’s part.

More of the smart money is moving toward Angle as the potential candidate who will face off with Reid in November. A recent article in Politico reports that Reid is eager to face Angle, whom he will depict as just another offbeat Republican in the mold of Rand Paul, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee in Kentucky.

The lesson here is that you can never count out Reid, and Republicans, if not careful, will find their fortunes slipping away in a perfect storm of current political events.