Harry Reid Accused of 'Bullying' Las Vegas Newspaper

Sherman Frederick, the publisher, recounts the events that took place at a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon last Wednesday in an editorial published Sunday. It was titled: "Enough Is Enough, Harry, Stop the Childish Bullying."

"Reid joined the chamber's board members for a meet-'n'-greet and a photo. One of the last in line was the Review-Journal's director of advertising, Bob Brown," wrote Frederick in describing the private encounter.

"As Bob shook hands with our senior U.S. senator in what should have been nothing but a gracious business setting, Reid said: 'I hope you go out of business.' "

Afterwards, according to Frederick, Reid said in his speech to the chamber "that he wants the Review-Journal to continue selling advertising because the Las Vegas Sun is delivered inside the Review-Journal."

Frederick considered the remarks threatening and responded forcefully in his column: "For the sake of all who live and work in Nevada, we can't let this bully behavior pass without calling out Sen. Reid. If he'll try it with the Review-Journal, you can bet that he's tried it with others. So today, we serve notice on Sen. Reid that this creepy tactic will not be tolerated."

The Review-Journal has been critical of Reid's policies, and has pointed out the majority leader's unpopularity in his home state.

As I wrote last week, the paper conducted a poll showing Reid -- who is up for reelection to a fifth term in 2010 -- would lose to either of his potential Republican challengers if the election were held now. The poll shows that Nevadans favor Republican Danny Tarkanian over Reid, 49 percent to 38 percent, and Republican Sue Lowden over the incumbent, 45 percent to 40 percent.

The poll also showed that Reid's approval ratings are very low, with 50 percent of voters saying they have an unfavorable view of him and only 37 percent of respondents with a favorable opinion.

Reid attacked the polling numbers at the same chamber luncheon. According to an article by Review-Journal Editor Thomas Mitchell, Reid said "that everything you read in the R-J is valid, except the polls." Mitchell also writes that Reid has questioned both the accuracy and the sample size of the paper's polls, which are conducted by Mason Dixon Polling and Research.

"I'm not quaking in my boots over polls," Reid said, according to the paper.

Well, maybe Reid should be a quaking, as those numbers reveal a dissatisfied constituency. Not to mention, he has just made an enemy of one of his state's newspapers.

"We won't allow you to bully us," Frederick wrote to Reid in the editorial. "And if you try it with anyone else, count on going through us first. That's a promise, not a threat. And it's a promise to our readers, not to you, Sen. Reid."

Follow Emily Miller on Twitter.