Reid hoping campaign cash an intimidator
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a message for anyone thinking of taking him on: It's going to be expensive.
Reid raised $2.2 million for his re-election campaign in the first three months of 2009, according to the campaign finance report that was due to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday.
That puts the Nevada Democrat's total fundraising at an intimidating $7.5 million with more than a year and a half to go before the election. And he is likely to rake in more when President Barack Obama comes to Las Vegas to host a fundraiser for Reid next month.
Reid's campaign manager, Brandon Hall, made the implication explicit: Reid hopes all that cash will scare potential opponents away.
"Anyone considering running against Senator Reid should know that we will be armed and ready to run an aggressive campaign," Hall said in a news release.
Reid spent half a million in the first quarter and has spent $3.3 million on the campaign thus far; his cash on hand, which includes leftover funds from the previous campaign, stands at a little more than $5 million.
For his previous re-election campaign, in 2004, Reid raised a little more than $7 million overall.
"This campaign is off to a very strong start, and it will only get stronger," Reid said in Wednesday's news release. "Meanwhile, I am going to continue my work to help Nevada families who worry about keeping their jobs as they struggle to pay their bills and stay in their homes."
Reid was in Northern Nevada on Wednesday for senatorial and campaign-related events, including a political fundraiser and visits to alternative-energy facilities.
No Republican opponent has emerged to take on Reid, who would be considered vulnerable if he faced a strong challenger.
Former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle of Reno recently began exploring a run against Reid and hopes to raise $100,000 by May.
Further details of Reid's first-quarter donations weren't available Wednesday.
Between 2003 and 2008, MGM Mirage and its employees gave the most money to Reid, followed by fellow gaming companies Station Casinos, Harrah's Entertainment and Boyd Gaming, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.
