Don't Forget Main Street
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Who's the newest Elkonian? How much stock does the Weekly Reid own? What does Tom Udall do with the newspaper ads attacking him? Reid On! Nevada First: Department of Rural Outreach. Senator Barack Obama brought his Presidential campaign to Nevada last week, and his first stop was the booming metropolis of Elko. For too long, national campaigns haven't spent time in rural Nevada. The idea was to run up the totals in Clark County, and let the pieces fall as they may in the other 16 counties. Frankly, it didn't work. John Kerry lost Nevada by 20,000 votes, and Senator Reid argues that half of those votes could have been flipped if he spent more time in rural Nevada. Fast forward to 2008: Barack Obama, on his third (!) visit to Elko, asks if he can be an "honorary Elkonian." Will he win Elko? Perhaps. It'll be a tough fight. But the importance of playing in rural areas, and other areas typically hostile to Democrats, can't be ignored - we're building a national campaign here folks, and we can't ignore places that may not love all of our policies. The fact of the matter is simple: The failed policies of the Bush-McCain Republican Party have hurt Americans all across this county: from Elko to Eugene, OR, from Las Vegas to Lansing, MI. Sen. Obama's campaign for change resonates in cities all across America - and it's our duty to spread that message.
Plus. If we can force McCain to spend money in places he wouldn't otherwise, that's less money for him to spend in Ohio and Florida.
Department of Green-Vada. The Weekly Reid's been flooding your inbox with updated registration numbers for the last six months. Nevada is becoming Blu-vada. But have you noticed that it's also blossoming into the renewable energy capital of the world? The Clean Energy Summit hosted by Sen. Reid helped focus people's attention on the Renewable Wonderland that is Nevada. And he's not stopping with conferences - he's using his clout to deliver much needed jobs to Nevada (in Las Vegas, the unemployment rate has spiked to 7.1%). Two nuggets for you today: First, the Department of Energy announced last week a grant of $600,000 for a Las Vegas based company, Acciona Solar Power, to help fund renewable projects. Nevada's got a lot of sun, and there are plenty of smart people looking for work. Second, there's a new company on the scene in Nevada, and its aim is to provide Nevadans with homegrown energy. NV Energy - formerly Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company - promises to focus attention on the renewable energy options in Nevada. From a press release: NV Energy will continue to focus on a statewide three-part energy strategy that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation, the development of new renewable resources, and adding generation that uses the cleanest available technologies. Same goals, new name. That's branding at work!
Must Reid: Department of What The… The Weekly Reid isn't going to delve into the why's and the how's of the financial meltdown. At all. Not just because none of it makes any sense. Rather, since the Weekly Reid owns exactly zero stock, he's got no horse in the race. Here's what the Weekly Reid will say: Oversight matters. For 8 years the Bush Administration has treated oversight and accountability like…well, no analogy quite captures their utter disregard for two staples of our democracy. The hands-off philosophy of Bush-McCain Republicans has brought our economy to its knees - and now is the time to put the American people first.
Here's what Democrats will do: First, protect taxpayers. We cannot afford to give a black check to the very same administration who has abused such power in the past. We must make sure taxpayers can reap the rewards - not just swallow the risk. As for executive pay? Why should execs who abused the trust of the American people ride off into retirement on our buck? There needs to be a limit. Second, protect homeowners and strengthen the middle class. We need a second economic recovery plan; one that keeps people in their homes and creates jobs.
The bottom-line? Democrats will work this week to restore stability to the markets - but we won't rush into something, taking George W. Bush's word for it.
Department of Oh, We Also Need to… While the American people are looking to the Hill for solutions to the greatest economic crisis in the Weekly Reid's lifetime, there are a number of other pressing issues that must be addressed before Congress breaks for the election. The tax extenders for renewable energy projects will come to the floor this week. Also, look for a deal worked out to pass a CR towards the end of the week. Democrats would like to get one passed to keep the government working through March of '09. Bush-McCain Republicans are hoping to get the Columbia free trade agreement and an India nuclear deal done in a lame duck session. No word yet as to whether or not there will be such a session.
Reid's Watching: Department of Big Spenders. A lot's happening down at the races. The NRSC barely out raised the DSCC last month (by less than a million bucks). But the DSCC is spending aggressively to support our candidates around the country, pumping nearly 14 million bucks into competitive races around the country - Colorado, North Carolina, Mississippi, to name just a few. What does this mean for our chances of getting to 60? Anything's possible. But to get to 60, we need to win in places like Oklahoma (Andrew Rice) and Georgia (Jim Martin, one of Harry Reid's favorites). Remember: The DSCC was there, in October 2006, when the races in Virginia, Missouri and Montana tightened. Their hard work secured victory in the most competitive races then, and will do so again in 2008. Click over to the DSCC's website and help them out raise the Republicans this month.
Department of in the trenches. The Weekly Reid's taking a look at three races this week:
Plus. If we can force McCain to spend money in places he wouldn't otherwise, that's less money for him to spend in Ohio and Florida.
Department of Green-Vada. The Weekly Reid's been flooding your inbox with updated registration numbers for the last six months. Nevada is becoming Blu-vada. But have you noticed that it's also blossoming into the renewable energy capital of the world? The Clean Energy Summit hosted by Sen. Reid helped focus people's attention on the Renewable Wonderland that is Nevada. And he's not stopping with conferences - he's using his clout to deliver much needed jobs to Nevada (in Las Vegas, the unemployment rate has spiked to 7.1%). Two nuggets for you today: First, the Department of Energy announced last week a grant of $600,000 for a Las Vegas based company, Acciona Solar Power, to help fund renewable projects. Nevada's got a lot of sun, and there are plenty of smart people looking for work. Second, there's a new company on the scene in Nevada, and its aim is to provide Nevadans with homegrown energy. NV Energy - formerly Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company - promises to focus attention on the renewable energy options in Nevada. From a press release: NV Energy will continue to focus on a statewide three-part energy strategy that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation, the development of new renewable resources, and adding generation that uses the cleanest available technologies. Same goals, new name. That's branding at work!
Must Reid: Department of What The… The Weekly Reid isn't going to delve into the why's and the how's of the financial meltdown. At all. Not just because none of it makes any sense. Rather, since the Weekly Reid owns exactly zero stock, he's got no horse in the race. Here's what the Weekly Reid will say: Oversight matters. For 8 years the Bush Administration has treated oversight and accountability like…well, no analogy quite captures their utter disregard for two staples of our democracy. The hands-off philosophy of Bush-McCain Republicans has brought our economy to its knees - and now is the time to put the American people first.
Here's what Democrats will do: First, protect taxpayers. We cannot afford to give a black check to the very same administration who has abused such power in the past. We must make sure taxpayers can reap the rewards - not just swallow the risk. As for executive pay? Why should execs who abused the trust of the American people ride off into retirement on our buck? There needs to be a limit. Second, protect homeowners and strengthen the middle class. We need a second economic recovery plan; one that keeps people in their homes and creates jobs.
The bottom-line? Democrats will work this week to restore stability to the markets - but we won't rush into something, taking George W. Bush's word for it.
Department of Oh, We Also Need to… While the American people are looking to the Hill for solutions to the greatest economic crisis in the Weekly Reid's lifetime, there are a number of other pressing issues that must be addressed before Congress breaks for the election. The tax extenders for renewable energy projects will come to the floor this week. Also, look for a deal worked out to pass a CR towards the end of the week. Democrats would like to get one passed to keep the government working through March of '09. Bush-McCain Republicans are hoping to get the Columbia free trade agreement and an India nuclear deal done in a lame duck session. No word yet as to whether or not there will be such a session.
Reid's Watching: Department of Big Spenders. A lot's happening down at the races. The NRSC barely out raised the DSCC last month (by less than a million bucks). But the DSCC is spending aggressively to support our candidates around the country, pumping nearly 14 million bucks into competitive races around the country - Colorado, North Carolina, Mississippi, to name just a few. What does this mean for our chances of getting to 60? Anything's possible. But to get to 60, we need to win in places like Oklahoma (Andrew Rice) and Georgia (Jim Martin, one of Harry Reid's favorites). Remember: The DSCC was there, in October 2006, when the races in Virginia, Missouri and Montana tightened. Their hard work secured victory in the most competitive races then, and will do so again in 2008. Click over to the DSCC's website and help them out raise the Republicans this month.
Department of in the trenches. The Weekly Reid's taking a look at three races this week:
New Mexico: Things are looking better and better for Tom Udall. Pollster.com's poll of polls has him up 55-41, and his newest ad, "Polly" makes a big joke out of Steve Pearce's inane attacks.Have a great week! Tune in next week for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
New Hampshire: Jean Shaheen's been leading in the polls since she lost to Sen. Sununu in 2002. But this is one of those races that will tighten as we get closer to election day. Gov. Shaheen's doing all she can to put the election away now (ARG has her up 12), and ads like this one, Dig, is a great step in that direction. Tag line: "The President has dug us into a very, very deep hole." And John Sununu's helped rubberstamp it!
Minnesota: SurveryUSA and Razz have this race very close - one point stands between Norm Coleman's reelection and his gradual fade into obscurity. Al Franken has really turned this race around in the last few months. And despite brutal attack ads from Coleman's campaign, Al's playing it straight (well, as much as he can be expected to) and running some of the best ads of the year. Here's his newest. And it's the Weekly Reid's favorite type of ad: the direct, stare-in-the-camera and remind-voters-what-the-issues are kind.
