Harry Reid takes the lead over Sharron Angle in Nevada
1. A new independent poll shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) opening up a seven-point edge over former state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle -- by far the most encouraging survey of this election cycle for the top ranking Senate Democrat.
Reid takes 44 percent to Angle's 37 percent in the poll, which was conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal by Mason Dixon Polling & Research.
Since Angle emerged as the surprise winner of the Silver State's June 8 primary, Reid has engaged in a steady -- and clearly effective -- television campaign to define the former state legislator as outside of the Nevada political mainstream. He has run ads hitting Angle for past comments about abolishing Social Security and for her alleged opposition to saving a major construction project in downtown Vegas.
Reid's onslaught has worked. In the Review Journal poll, Angle's unfavorable rating went from 25 percent in June to 43 percent now. Her favorable score fell from 38 percent to 33 percent.
While the poll affirms what Republicans have been saying privately -- that Angle has not done well for herself since the primary -- there remain a few bright spots for the GOP.
First, Reid is universally known in the state and still only at 44 percent in a head to head matchup with Angle. Also, just 37 percent view him favorably while 46 percent see him in an unfavorable light. Those numbers mean that lots and lots of voters are not sold on him and won't likely get sold on him. But do they go to Angle or to some other option -- like "none of the above" -- on the November ballot?
Second, Reid has, to date, used his vast financial edge to define Angle on television. Having raised an amazing $2.6 million between April 1 and June 30 -- $2.3 million of which came in after she won the primary -- Angle will be able to fight the Majority Leader on more equal footing now.
Still, the poll shows Angle has incurred real political damage in the early days of the general election.