Let me try and break this down for the people in this community who think Reid is making
this gesture because there are no viable candidates in Nevada and/or Ensign can't be beat.
When the most powerful politician in the state says, "I don't think he's worth challenging," he is essentially doing one of a few things:
1) He's discouraging any Democrat who was considering a run to run.
Reid's statements and actions have sent a signal to any Democrat who may be thinking of running, that they will at best receive little to no support from the state's strongest politician and leader of the Senate caucus, and at worst be discouraged by the party. For example:
-No support from the DSCC
-Moneymen refuse to fundraise
-County chairmen refuse to allow votes on endorsement
-Labor won't take the calls
-The state party won't share its list
Most candidates for Senate don't just wake up a year before the election and decide to run. Most of them have timelines that go out 3, 4, 5, 6 or more years in advance. When Ensign won in '00 more than one Democratic politician in Nevada, said, "I may run against him when he's up for re-election." Someone was considering a run, and if that person is someone Reid doesn't like this is a real possibility.
If the person considering a run is Oscar Goodman, the current Democratic mayor of Las Vegas who is incredibly popular, then this may be the case, as Goodman made his living defending a lot of clients who came before Reid when he was on the gaming board. I have to disclose that I'm completely speculating. For all I know Goodman and Reid are the best of friends.
2) He's covering his own ass.
His money men, or the moneymen of his political opponents have suggested they want Ensign in office and there will be repercussions if he's strongly challenged or unseated.
3) He's frontin'.
Reid may simply be saying this before the cameras, for whatever reason, while in actuality he's aiding a candidate behind the scenes or doing nothing substantial to hamper another candidate.
Nonetheless, the question before this community isn't why Reid made his decision. It is, "Is the state of Nevada being served by this Republican-Tom Delay-James Dobson rubber-stamp?" As I said in a diary not so long ago, there are too many James Carville talking-head wanna-bes in this community and not enough Cesar Chavezes. If this is what the progressive movement has become then no wonder we control nothing!
As Armando pointed out in the story, Ensign should be one of our top targets if only because Bush's approvals are so low, and Ensign's support is so limited. Additionally, because Nevada is a state with so many transients, few politicians are ever truly safe, as the electorate is constantly and rapidly changing.
If you care about Social Security, the Supreme Court or a host of other issues currently endangered with the Republicans in control of the Senate, then you, like I should be wondering how to go around Reid.