Poll: Pro-Abortion Senate Leader Harry Reid Likely Losing

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 29, 2010   |   11:06AM   |   Carson City, NV

When voters head to the polls on Tuesday, they appear likely to kick out the number one Democrat in the Senate and the man who sets the agenda for that congressional chamber, pro-abortion Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.

Early in his career, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid took a pro-life position and once issued a defense of adding a human life amendment to protect the rights of unborn children.
 
But his watering down of his pro-life views to the point of spearheading the effort to pass a government takeover of the health care system that allows for abortion funding and prompts concerns about rationing, may ultimately prove to be his career’s undoing.
 
A new poll shows GOP challenger Sharron Angle heads into Election Day with the potential of pulling off the single biggest upset of the election cycle.
 
The Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey shows Angle with the support of 49 percent of Nevada voters compared with 45 percent who say they back Reid. Momentum has moved in Angle’s direction as she has expanded her lead from 47-45 percent in the last poll the firm released.
 
The new survey was conducted form Monday to Wednesday and included 625 Nevadans likely to vote.
Both Reid and Angle pick up support from their party, as 84 percent of Democrats back Reid and 85 percent of Republicans support Angle. But the pro-life challenger has been able to pick up backing from independent voters on a 55 percent to 38 percent margin — making it so the senator who has served for decades may be retiring unexpectedly.
 
“Reid just can’t get much above 45 percent, and she’s carrying the independents,” said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. “I haven’t seen a poll showing him up since the debate. That might have been when things started to lock in. I think the odds are pretty good that Angle’s going to win.”
 
Reid is not giving up, with just days to go before the final vote. Though early voting indicates he’s trailing, he’s spending millions of dollars on last-minute television ads and relying on labor unions, celebrities and pro-abortion President Barack Obama to help him out.
 
The poll shows Reid needs Clark County, in Las Vegas, to win the election.
 
There, he is up on Angle 49 percent to 45 percent; but he trails here in Reno, 49 percent to 45 percent and in the rest of the state 64 percent to 31 percent.
The poll is the first since the two debated on television, which saw Reid mislead voters on whether the Hyde Amendment is preserved in the ObamaCare law.
 
Angle has the support of pro-life groups, including the National Right to Life Committee.
“In the state legislature, Sharron Angle was a strong advocate for life,” said National Right to Life Political Director Karen Cross.

She told LifeNews.com, “Our endorsement reflects Sharron Angle’s unwavering commitment to renewing a culture of life in Nevada and throughout the nation.”

Melissa Clement, the president of the NRLC affiliate Nevada Right to Life, also joined in supporting Angle.

“Sharron Angle has a perfect pro-life voting record in the Nevada legislature, and was the lead sponsor of pro-life legislation,” Clement said. “Nevada Right to Life PAC is pleased to join National Right to Life PAC in endorsing Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate.”