WEEK IN REVIEW: Reporters’ notebook

Harry Reid is a powerful man, but that power sometimes works in reverse, particularly where Republicans are concerned.

During a meeting with R-J staff members just before the recent straw poll in Iowa, the Senate majority leader was asked who he liked in the GOP presidential field.

Reid said Tim Pawlenty was great and Michele Bachmann was an also-ran with no chance of winning the nomination.

Less than 48 hours later, Bachmann had won the straw poll and Pawlenty had dropped out altogether.

So watch out, Rick Perry. The senator from Searchlight thinks you're going to be a real factor in the race, which is probably not good news for you.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, now looks like the odds-on favorite for the White House. Harry Reid can't stand the guy.

HENRY BREAN

Spotted in traffic in Henderson Monday: A $100,000-plus Aston Martin sports car with a Nevada license plate that read, "I BROKE".

Did you hear the news, everyone? San Francisco-based real estate website Trulia.com ranks Las Vegas as the best city in the country to buy a home!

Apparently, our grand scheme to drive housing prices to their lowest level in 20 years really helped our rank in Trulia's Summer 2011 Rent vs. Buy Index.

So great news, right?

Unless you already own a home.

HENRY BREAN

TWEET OF THE WEEK: @hdubtre (local conservationist Howard Watts III) So only little McMansions in the scenic loop view instead of tract homes? THAT makes sense #redrock

BONUS TWEET OF THE WEEK: @fukuburger (Fukuburger food truck) Remember when Vegas was known for all the A-list celebs? Now we settle to promote no talent reality-types. #CmonLV