Many are wondering why Harry Reid, sitting Majority Leader, is in such a perilous political position after being a dominant political figure in Nevada for 40 years. There’s a not-so-obvious reason worth noting.
Yes, Reid is a liberal but he is also considered pro-life and pro-gun. How has someone holding those views climbed to the position of leader in a caucus typically intolerant of dissension on those issues? I have no idea.
But politically, it is one of the reasons that Reid has had an electorally trouble-free existence: He unites the Democrats with a coalition of independents and moderates in part due to his positions on guns and babies.
Now, however, Reid has become the poster boy for an unpopular political agenda topped by a government takeover of healthcare. Across the nation polls show independents increasingly opposed to health care “reform” and Reid’s ability to appeal to indies and moderate Republicans has dissipated. And just when he needs the liberal base the most, the most rabid segments have no use for him.
The alienation of the middle over the Obama agenda, a lack of fidelity to social liberals, and a now muddied relationship with the all-important black vote spells doom for Harry Reid.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Intolerant of dissension. The last time I checked, there were four Democratic Senators that were openly pro life and about fifteen that had consistently high scores from the NRA. Harry Reid has always started off slow and then gained as he got closer to election day. This cycle is not very much different.