FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Majority Leader Harry Reid is the top cheerleader for health care reform in the Senate... and this support for the bill might just wind up costing him his Nevada Senate seat.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/08/art.reid.tie.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pauses while speaking after a meeting with Pres. Obama and other Senate Democrats as they consider their version of health care reform legislation."]
That's because a growing number of Nevadans don't support health care reform...
A Las Vegas Review-Journal poll shows 53 percent of registered voters oppose the president's health care plan while only 39 percent approve of it.
Majorities of Nevadans are also opposed to a public option, believe that the reform plan would raise taxes, and that it would lead to the rationing of health care. Worse yet - ahead of his re-election bid next year, only 39 percent approve of Reid's efforts to get a bill though the Senate.
Evidence suggests that although most Democrats support Reid's efforts... that probably won't be enough to outweigh the disapproval of most independents and Republicans. One pollster says Reid is carrying the flag for this reform and "You remember what happened historically to flag bearers in war. The flag bearer gets shot first."
Meanwhile Reid managed to get both feet in his mouth when he compared Republicans' opposition to health care reform... to people who opposed ending slavery. That bit of stupidity was delivered on the floor of the senate. Republicans call Reid's comment "an ignorant moment" and they're demanding an apology.
Here’s my question to you: Could Harry Reid’s support of health care reform cost him his Senate seat?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jim writes:
Yes, I think Senator Reid's seat could be in jeopardy, and I hope it is. And also for any other elected official in Washington that thinks we can afford this health care bill, I say throw all the bums out. There is no "cake" to be eaten.
Rob from Nevada writes:
Jack, Sen. Reid's days have been numbered since he took the side of the resorts and supported an open border; I can only hope that our Governor (Gibbons) doesn't decide to run for his job. Honestly, they both have made such a mess of things here, that after 35 years of being proud to tell people where I live, I am moving out of the state.
Marta from Henderson, Nevada writes:
No, Harry Reid's support of health care will not cost him his Senate seat. Most Nevadans, like me, are aware that we have a champion for ordinary people in Senator Reid. Why would we ditch a senior statesman like Harry in favor of electing someone with considerably less clout and understanding of how to make real changes happen for this country?
Brian from Las Vegas writes:
As a Nevadan, I can tell you the climate here is that Harry Reid's support of health care reform is only one issue in a long list of issues that will cost Harry Reid his Senate seat. While Nevadans were proud that the Senator worked his way up as the majority leader, he has ignored his home state and instead entrenched himself in partisan politics instead of solutions.
Ernie writes:
Yes, Harry Reid will probably lose his Senate seat. But it appears he's prepared to pay the ultimate political price for doing what for most politicians would be the unthinkable: Doing what's best for his country and not what's best for Harry Reid. Too bad his attitude isn't contagious.
D. writes:
I wouldn't bet against anyone who worked his way through college by being a boxer and wound up being the Senate Majority Leader. Reid's a fighter.
Dennis from Boulder, Colorado writes:
Jack, Are you the only person on national TV that knows how to correctly pronounce "Nevada"?