Reid “outsourcing the rough stuff”

While surrogates and his aggressive campaign team have been taking swings left and right at challenger Sharron Angle, Sen. Harry Reid is floating above the fray in his re-election race, Politico observes in a story this morning.

"It is quite a change for a Senate leader who has a reputation as a street brawler and a long history of brutal campaign jabs. But as he faces his toughest campaign in 12 years, Reid is letting everyone else — campaign operatives, Democratic committees and even President Barack Obama — paint Angle as an extremist," according to the piece.

 Reid advisers say there is little reason for him to join the front lines just yet. Free media have been picking up on many of Angle's controversial views, and the senator's campaign staff have been happy to direct traffic to them.

Plus minimizing Reid's turns in the spotlight cuts down on the potential for him to make mistakes of his own.

Politico then asked experts about Reid's strategy to stay above the fray by "outsourcing the campaign rough stuff."

    Among responses:

    -- Thomas J. Whalen, political science professor at Boston University:  "Ironically, Harry Reid is using the same political strategy that the Bush family has employed so effectively over the years: let others do the "dirty work" while publicly remaining above the fray."

    -- Darrell West, vice president of governance studies at Brookings Institution:  "It always is good for politicians to play the good cop/bad cop routine. They take the high road knowing that aides, friends, and political allies will deliver the harsh attacks. This shields the incumbent from the inevitable voter backlash from those upset with attack politics."