It's Harry Reid versus the Kochs in a pitched battle for his legacy
There's a lot riding on the potential victory of Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto for the Nevada Senate seat being vacated by Harry Reid. It's the only plausible pick-up seat for Republicans this year. It's Harry Reid's seat. And it's the culminating battle in the years-long war Reid has waged against the Koch brothers.
"I am going to do everything I can do to prevail, to help her prevail," a determined Mr. Reid said in an interview at his home in nearby Henderson as he takes on a more visible role in the Senate fight.For their part, leaders of the Koch network, which has at least four separate groups working to defeat Ms. Cortez Masto, do not disguise the fact that they would sorely like to knock off Mr. Reid's chosen successor to exact a bit of revenge and to help Republicans hold the Senate.
"It would certainly be poetic justice to see Harry Reid, who for so long has waged an unhinged personal vendetta against people we care a lot about, to see his seat go to someone who supports limited government, free speech," said Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-aligned group mounting an extensive ground game against Ms. Cortez Masto.
The Kochs, not wanting to deal with what's happening at the top of the ticket this election, are focusing most of their attention and vast resources on the Senate. Nevada would be a highly symbolic win for them, and an important one. As Reid says of the Republican candidate, Rep. Joe Heck, he "is an absolute stooge for these right-wing nut cases." If he could pull out a win in this year—with the backing of the Kochs and four of the groups in their network—he would owe everything to them, and you can bet he would do everything in his power to thank them for it. So far the Freedom Partners Action Fund has spent $4.5 million against Cortez Masto. Concerned Veterans for America has thrown in $700,000 worth of ads for Heck. AFP already has three field offices in the state and is getting ready to open another—entirely focused on beating Cortez Masto, and by extension, Reid.
He sure as hell isn't going to back down. "I think people are not only identified by their friends, but also their enemies," says Reid, adding "say what you want about me—and people do—but as my dad said, 'If you do something, don't do it half-assed.' Just do it."