NRA doesn't endorse Reid

The gun lobby doesn't endorse Sharron Angle, either

Published August 27, 2010 9:28PM (EDT)

Sen. Harry Reid
Sen. Harry Reid

Harry Reid may still have a fighting chance to win campaign (or we may be looking at Senator "None of These Candidates"), but this won't help: The NRA -- which has endorsed Reid in the past, because the dude loves guns, and even earmarks millions of dollars for super-fun desert gun ranges -- has declined to endorse Reid, because he voted for Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

But Reid is totally playing it off. If the NRA won't endorse them, they will just make it sound like they did! Reid's campaign released this statement:

"The NRA's relationship with Sen. Reid has been long-standing and productive and - unlike for Sharron Angle - they've put their money where their mouth is this cycle. Along with their financial support, the declaration of NRA head Wayne LaPierre that Sen. Reid is 'a true champion of the Second Amendment' and that 'no one has been a stronger advocate for responsible gun ownership than him' shows beyond a doubt that the NRA believes Sen. Reid to be a strong advocate for Nevadans' Second Amendment rights in the US Senate."

So, don't worry, Nevadans. All of your Senate choices love guns, so much.

(Honestly, the NRA got a lot of flack from the activist right for their support of the DISCLOSE campaign finance bill, and their successful lobbying to exclude themselves from the bill's regulations -- they probably don't want to make the base even angrier, and end up like AARP, which is no longer trusted by plenty of conservatives.)

Harry Reid may still win his perilous reelection campaign (or we may be looking at Senator "None of These Candidates"), but this won't help: The NRA -- which has endorsed Reid in the past, because the dude loves guns, and even earmarks millions of dollars for super-fun desert gun ranges -- has declined to endorse Reid, because he voted for Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

But Reid is totally playing it off. If the NRA won't endorse them, they will just make it sound like they did! Reid's campaign released this statement:

"The NRA's relationship with Sen. Reid has been long-standing and productive and - unlike for Sharron Angle - they've put their money where their mouth is this cycle. Along with their financial support, the declaration of NRA head Wayne LaPierre that Sen. Reid is 'a true champion of the Second Amendment' and that 'no one has been a stronger advocate for responsible gun ownership than him' shows beyond a doubt that the NRA believes Sen. Reid to be a strong advocate for Nevadans' Second Amendment rights in the US Senate."

So, don't worry, Nevadans. All of your Senate choices love guns, so much.

(Honestly, the NRA got a lot of flack from the activist right for their support of the DISCLOSE campaign finance bill, and their successful lobbying to exclude themselves from the bill's regulations -- they probably don't want to make the base even angrier, and end up losing ground to one of the crazier gun groups.)


By Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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2010 Elections Guns Harry Reid Sharron Angle War Room