Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) campaign on Wednesday released a list of 60 Silver State GOPers who have started Republicans for Reid in an effort to bolster the 2010 re-election efforts of the Senates top Democrat.
Reids weak showing in early polling has excited national Republicans who hope to knock off the most prominent Democrat in the Senate this cycle. But as of yet no credible GOP challenger has stepped forward to take up the party mantle in Nevada.
The list of Republicans who have signed on to endorse Reid includes high-profile Nevada business owners, the Republican mayor of Reno, and Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons, a former state legislator and one-time Congressional candidate who is in the middle of a nasty divorce from her husband, Gov. Jim Gibbons (R).
Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and long-time GOP operative Sig Rogich are serving as the groups co-chairmen.
I am proud to set partisanship aside and do what is vital for our state during these extraordinarily difficult times, Rogich said in a news release. From preserving Lake Tahoe to fighting to protect our gaming and tourist industry from those who would want a greater Federal role in our largest industry, Harry Reid has been tireless.
These leaders know that I continually work across party lines to help Nevadas families, Reid said. I greatly appreciate their support and look forward to working with them as this campaign begins.
A spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee was dismissive of the new GOP group.
Endorsements and press releases cant disguise the reality facing Senator Reid next year," said the NRSC's Brian Walsh. "He has a 100 percent name ID in Nevada but only a 38 percent approval so its hard to see how something like this moves his numbers."
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