Silver State special

Republicans have been unsuccessful in finding a top-tier candidate to challenge Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), but the head of the GOP’s Senate campaign arm promised Reid would face a strong challenger in 2010.

National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) admitted Wednesday that time to find a candidate is not unlimited, but he said the chance to take out the Senate majority leader would open Republican wallets around the nation.

{mosads}“With the right candidate against Harry Reid, money will not be a problem. And not just in Nevada, among contributors there, but I mean nationally,” Cornyn told reporters.

“I think we have time — it’s not open-ended — to find the right candidate,” Cornyn said. “Because of the overall political environment, I don’t think there’s that kind of urgency that we might otherwise feel to get a candidate early.”

But Republicans have seen several prominent potential candidates fall by the wayside. Former Rep. Jon Porter (R), long seen as a strong challenger, lost his reelection bid in 2008 and has since signed on with a Washington lobbying firm. Former state Sen. Bob Beers (R), another possible contender, suffered the same fate last year.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (R) is in the race, but he was indicted for misappropriation of funds during his tenure as state treasurer. Though Krolicki maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty, he is no longer a candidate national Republicans speak of.

Meanwhile, Rep. Dean Heller (R) has not ruled out a run, and Cornyn said the NRSC “would love to have him run. He would be a formidable candidate.”

“National Republicans only want to talk about poll numbers, but they have very little to say on how to improve Nevada’s economy and make healthcare more affordable for Nevadans,” said Brandon Hall, Reid’s campaign manager. “Sen. Reid doesn’t put weight in poll numbers. Instead, Sen. Reid is focused on using his leadership position to create jobs by making Nevada the leading producer of clean energy and make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all Nevadans.”

Political watchers in Nevada say the GOP may not need a top-tier candidate to take on the unpopular senior senator.

“If the national dynamics are bad for the Democrats next time, [Reid] could be beaten by a lesser candidate,” Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston said.

And Heller may be the man.

“There’s a formidable candidate for Harry Reid, maybe his worst nightmare,” Ralston said. “Anyone else is not going to have as easy a time as Heller raising money.”

And in the end, it’s all about money — especially when Reid has said he expects to raise and spend $25 million on his reelection bid.

Though he has no opponent yet, Hall said Reid is ready for whatever Republicans throw his way.

“Sen. Reid knows he has a campaign to run in 2010. That’s why we got an early start, and we’ll be ready to run an aggressive campaign against whoever his opponent might be,” Hall said.

When that opponent emerges, Cornyn promised the race “will be gangbusters.”

— R.W.

Cornyn not backing Ensign — yet

Speaking of the Silver State, Cornyn has pointedly refused to endorse the reelection prospects of embattled Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who faces voters in 2012.

Cornyn, who succeeded Ensign atop the NRSC, told reporters Wednesday he would not comment on races next cycle. Cornyn said Republicans have been treading lightly since Ensign admitted in June to having an affair with a close family friend who worked on his campaign.

“Sen. Ensign and his family and everybody involved have been through a very tough time, and I think all of us have tried to give him and his family and all involved the space to work through that,” Cornyn said when asked whether he would support Ensign’s bid for a third term.

Ensign’s office refused to comment on Cornyn’s statement, and the senator, tracked down in the Senate hallways, also declined to say anything.

— R.W.

Cultural disparities, campaign edition

Sometimes “hell” is a deplorable swear-word, and sometimes it’s the symbol of a tough-as-nails politician voters know will fight for them. When is it which? That depends.

In Kentucky, Fancy Farm is the traditional beginning of the political season, and is usually a source of political fireworks.

Last weekend’s picnic in Frankfort, Ky., was no exception — especially when Attorney General Jack Conway (D) used the words “hell” and “crap” and called himself “one tough son of a b—h” in his speech there Saturday.

Some at the picnic were aghast; the event is, after all, put on by a church group.

Conway’s Democratic primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D), went nuclear after Conway’s speech, calling on his rival to apologize and questioning Conway’s judgment.

Kentucky, though, is a place for colonels, wide-brimmed hats and gentlemanly behavior. Other regions of the country, most notably the rugged Mountain West, where politicians are more apt to sport cowboy boots and denim than sip a mint julep, are far different.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) website has “Give ’em hell Harry” splashed across the top of the page (GiveEmHellHarry.com also redirects to Reid’s website).

Though his approval ratings are terribly weak for a candidate running for reelection, Reid has never been shy about blurting the occasional blue word.

Jokes Nevada political guru Jon Ralston, most Silver Staters aren’t likely to be upset by Reid’s remarks. Given his weak approval ratings, “people have enough things to be mad at Harry Reid about,” Ralston said.

— R.W.