GOP can’t wait to knock Obama on Vegas trip

Republicans didn't wait for any official confirmation -- they rushed ahead today to take a shot at President Barack Obama's anticipated visit to Las Vegas next week and his likely host, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.

Reports of a possible Obama stop in Las Vegas before the holidays have been blogged and tweeted over the past several weeks, prompted by a Nov. 30 story in the Review-Journal that said Reid and MGM Mirage were angling for the president to check out the newly opened CityCenter.

There has been no confirmation yet, but Republicans could hold back no longer when pundit Jon Ralston became the latest to report that Obama might pay a visit early next week if the Senate health care debate is under control.

The GOP challenged Obama to address Nevada joblessness, and a charge that his $787 billion stimulus program "is not working."

Nevadans "will be expecting a real plan – not an empty speech that is only filled with hope – that will actually create jobs and get the state’s economy working again,” according to the statement from the Republican National Committee.

In response, a Reid spokesman said CityCenter is an example of how Nevada benefits "when Reid leverages his leadership position to help the state."

Reid, the Senate majority leader, called banks on behalf of the $8.5 billion Strip landmark when it was trying to complete construction. In a campaign commercial Reid accepts credit for saving thousands of jobs on the nation's biggest construction project.

Republicans during the Bush administration created an economic mess, and "Sen. Reid is working every day to dig us out of that hole and get our economy back on track," aide Jon Summers said.