Democratic Leader Takes Anti-Corruption Message to GOP Turf
Harry M. Reid is heading into the belly of the beast.
The Senate minority leader will spend much of this week traveling to "red states" -- those that voted for George W. Bush in 2004 -- to campaign for candidates, raise cash and bash Republicans on the issue of corruption.
Dubbed by his office "Reid's Red State Tour," the three-day journey will take the Nevada senator through Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Nebraska. He will be in Phoenix and Denver on Tuesday, Salt Lake City and Pocatello on Wednesday and Omaha on Thursday. It is one of several such campaign swings Reid has planned between now and the November midterm elections, according to his office.
In each state Reid will conduct events seeking to highlight the need to "restore honest leadership in Washington, D.C.," said his spokesman Jim Manley.
But Reid also has a pecuniary motive. He plans to raise money for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at each of his five stops.
Take, for example, his jaunt to Nebraska. According to an itinerary of the visit, Reid will join Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) to "send a strong message that Americans don't have to accept more of the same corruption and cronyism that pervades Washington today." Left off the itinerary is a DSCC event in Omaha hosted by Reid that Nelson plans to attend.
With official Washington clamoring to deal with the fallout from last week's plea agreement by fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Reid's trip comes at an opportune time for a party whose members are seeking to cast themselves as outsiders to corruption.
"Americans everywhere want elected officials who will fight for them," Reid said. "We're ready to clean up Washington, and we're going to make our case across this country."
Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt drew a different conclusion when informed of Reid's travels.
"You can take Harry Reid out of Washington, but you can't take the Washington out of Harry Reid," Schmitt said. "Does he plan to brag about killing the Patriot Act or shutting down the United States Senate?"
Vegas Mayor Ready to Gamble on Senate Bid?
Meanwhile, back in Sin City, the Senate minority leader confirmed last week that he has spoken to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (D) about possibly challenging Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) in 2006.
Harry M. Reid told the Associated Press that he was "happy to give [Goodman] any advice or counsel that he needs or wants." Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has also spoken with Goodman about a potential candidacy. Jack Carter, son of former president Jimmy Carter, is also considering a bid against Ensign.
