Harry Reid Endorses a Successor (Catherine Cortez Masto) in Nevada

[Eugene]

Source: NBC News

Harry Reid Endorses a Successor in Nevada

-- Kelly O'Donnell and Andrew Rafferty

First published April 8th 2015, 6:39 pm

Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday endorsed Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto shortly after she announced her bid to run for Reid's seat.

"She's spent a lifetime fighting to protect Nevada families. And I know she will continue that work in the Senate," Reid said in an email to supporters. "The first Latina to serve as Nevada's Attorney General, Catherine's election to this seat would be historic. She would be the first Latina ever to serve as a United States Senator."

Reid announced last month he would not run for re-election once his current term ends in early 2017. The top Democrat in the Senate would have faced a bruising re-election and campaign, and an eye injury on New Year's Day gave his family "time to ponder and to think" about the future.

Cortez Masto, 51, left a position with the Nevada System of Higher Education on Tuesday. The race to replace Reid is expected to be highly competitive, especially if Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval decides to run.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/harry-reid-endorses-successor-nevada-n338121

[qwlauren35]

1. AWESOME!!!

Hope she has a chance. I love seeing women in the Senate, and a Latina woman in the Senate would be a terrific thing.

[FBaggins]

3. Her chances would probably have been better if he hadn't endorsed her

I'm not sure that Reid is a net positive right now.

But she probably has the nomination locked up already (with EMILY's list and DSCC backing).

[Cal33]

4. I'm not so sure. Endorsing her does, at least, bring more attention to her name. Some would be

for her, others would be against her because of it, but her name recognition would be improved.
That is something most people running for office would want.

[a kennedy]

2. kicking this for further exposure....

or has it been discussed already and I didn't see it?