CQ now rates Senate race as tossup

CQ Politics, one of the widely read arbiters of who is up and who is down, has changed its rating of the Nevada Senate race from "leans Republican" to "tossup."

Which is another sign Sen. Harry Reid is up following the Republican nomination of former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle as his competition.

Angle's "ultraconservative views will help Democrats draw sharp distinctions" with Reid,  CQ said.  But that is the key task for the Dems this fall "because if Reid's poll numbers are to be believed he has little hope if the election is just about him."

"Angle’s nomination will help Democrats define the contest as a clear choice between two very different political philosophies, and that’s a good thing for Democrats."