Reid to 'Vaporize' GOP Challengers: Aide

Harry Reid, his re-election campaign wilting in the polls, is getting ready to rumble: The Senate majority leader is promising an intensely negative campaign against the 2010 GOP challenger for his Senate seat. With his $8.7 million war chest—the largest ever for a Nevada statewide race—Reid will “vaporize” his opponent, an aide tells Politico. “I think he will do anything to win,” an analyst concurs. Well, “anything legal to win.”

The Reid campaign is said to have taken inspiration from Jon Corzine’s negative turn in the New Jersey gubernatorial race—yes, the one where challenger Chris Christie is impugned for traffic violations and being fat. Reid will likely be up against former state senator Sue Lowden—mob ties?—or rookie Danny Tarkanian. Insiders say Reid would rather face Tarkanian, though the Republican’s camp doesn’t see his inexperience as a particular disadvantage. “Harry Reid will attempt to savage whoever the nominee is,” an adviser says. (More Harry Reid stories.)