According to Chris Cillizza over at the Fix, Senator Ensign is set to publicly announce he's had extramarital (heterosexual) relations.
Link to the Fix
What does this do on a state and national level? For Ensign's personal situation? Below this intro is further information from the above link.
According to Cillizza,
Sources in Washington and Nevada say Republican Sen. John Ensign, a rising star in the Republican Party considering a 2012 presidential bid will hold a press conference later today in which he will acknowledge an extramarital affair.
Ensign, a member of the Senate GOP leadership, flew back to his native Las Vegas today in anticipation of the public announcement, sources said, missing a vote considered key to the Nevada tourist industry.
Two senior GOP political strategists, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, said the announcement was imminent. They declined to say with whom Ensign had the affair.
Since Ensign has become a contender for the 2012 Republican nomination, does this have any impact on that race? How do his Senate colleagues react? Will he be given a less harsh look by members of his Party (a la Gingrich) or will he be tossed out to the political graveyard?
Also, as someone not closely following Nevada politics, how does Sen. Reid react to this?
Update: From the AP:
An aide in Ensign's office said the affair took place between December 2007 and August 2008, with a campaign staffer who was married to an employee in Ensign's Senate office. Neither have worked for the senator since May 2008. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity.