Angle dismisses Raggio as ‘good ol’ boy career politician’ after he endorses Reid

Republican Sharron Angle dismissed GOP state Sen. Bill Raggio's endorsement of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, painting them both as high taxers and spenders.

"It’s refreshing to have the light shed on those who are finally willing to expose who they really are in a desperate attempt to help keep the churn turning for liberal big-government beliefs," Angle spokesman Jerry Stacy said in an email after Raggio reluctantly endorsed Reid earlier Thursday.

"We know that many good ol’ boy career politicians do not believe in Republican principles, but instead are more apt to align themselves closer with the liberal policies promoted by Senator Harry Reid such as Obamacare, Cap and Trade, amnesty for illegal aliens, higher deficits, and the reckless stimulus spending which has resulted in even higher unemployment for our state."

Raggio and Angle have been bitter foes in the past. He nearly lost his 2008 GOP primary to Angle when he ran for re-election. And Raggio helped lead the state Senate in passing a record $830 million tax increase in 2003 that Angle and other fiscal conservatives tried to block, including by going to court.

"Sharron Angle has been a loyal fighter for taxpayers, and it’s ludicrous to imagine that Sharron would expect any endorsement from somebody who has spent their legislative career promoting billions in new taxes and higher spending on the backs of hard-working Nevadans," Stacey said. " Sharron Angle is only candidate in the race that is going to fight for Republican principles such as smaller government and less taxes."