Spin war commences on Nevada unemployment

Let the spin wars begin on the latest numbers for Nevada's unemployment, a discouraging 14.2 percent rate for June. 

The Republican Party this morning pounced on the new record, challenging Sen. Harry Reid over the numbers. This is from Brian Walsh,  communications director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee:

“If you’re a liberal special interest looking for a backroom deal or kickback in Washington, Harry Reid’s time as Senate Majority Leader has been a boondoggle of riches. But if you’re a working family or a struggling small business in Nevada, these new record unemployment numbers serve as a reminder that the state can’t afford six more years of Harry Reid. During Reid’s time as Majority Leader, Nevada’s unemployment has skyrocketed from 4.4 percent to 14.2 percent, while the national debt has climbed past $13 trillion. The Silver State’s out-of-touch senior Senator loves to brag that ‘no one can do more’ for Nevada, but when voters consider that his slogan means more government, more spending, and more taxes, we’re confident they will support new leadership by electing Sharron Angle this November.”

But in an effort to inoculate Reid on the issue, his campaign this morning called attention to a soundbite it posted Friday as conservative talk show host Heidi Harris was decrying Republican Angle's slump in the latest polls.

In the excerpt culled by the Reid campaign, Harris says that if Angle believes that a senator's job is not to create jobs, "then don't bash Harry Reid for unemployment."