If the RJ's pollster had called the Gleaner, there would have been yet one more person reporting an "unfavorable" opinion of Harry Reid -- can't forgive all those years of caving to Republicans. For starters.
But for the moment let's put aside the many, many, many people, on both left and right, who disapprove of Reid on policy and political grounds. Reid is also arguably one of the least personally likable politicians on the contemporary American landscape.
So it's little surprise to see polling indicate -- again -- that if Republicans ever rustle up a candidate other than extreme performance artist Sharron Angle, the Senate Majority Leader could be beat.
The new numbers don't really tell us much that is, well, new, so I see no reason not to lazily dust off my original take:
But no matter how effectively a well-funded GOP challenger might exploit a contempt bred of familiarity and pound away at Reid's already flimsy approval ratings, or how concrete the Democratic gains in Nevada, or how superior Reid's campaign machine is, Reid's political future is going to have almost nothing to do with any of that stuff.
A fifth term in the Senate won't depend on Reid assembling a flawless political juggernaut in Nevada and destroying any and all challengers. It will depend on the success of Barack Obama's presidency.
If the economy appears to stabilize and improve, if progress is being made in foreign policy and if voters determine that the nation is on the "right track" by 2010, Reid will win. If not, Reid will lose.
And yes if things aren't turning around by election day 2010 then the political fate of Harry Reid will be the least significant thing in the whole of space and time anyway.
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