Harry Reid Picks The One Race That Could Cost Democrats The Senate

Harry Reid is showing serious concern over the Senate races that will be decided in Tuesday’s midterm elections.

With a number of polling websites forecasting a Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate — and a hold of control over the House of Representatives — the outlooks are pretty grim for Democrats.

Having the GOP control both houses of Congress would force bipartisanship out of the president and derail most of his second term agenda.

Aware of this fact, Harry Reid tried to rally supporters as part of a conference call organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee on Saturday.

For the most part, Reid thinks that Democrats will be fine, but he did urge caution in one key race: the Iowa Senate race between Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst.

“What Joni Ernst would mean, coming to the United States Senate, is that Mitch McConnell would be the leader of the Senate, someone who agrees with her on virtually everything. Think what that would mean to our country,” Reid said in comments reported by CBS News.

Iowa has leaned Democratic for the last few election cycles, but the race between Braley and Ernst is now locked in a dead heat of 44 percent support for each. However, CBS News was using an old poll when they reported on Reid’s comments. Follow-ups have had Ernst at a 7-point lead.

Considering that the Republican demographic has been more charged for the midterm elections, it’s questionable whether Democrats will be able to get out the vote enough to pull out a victory.

Doing so, Reid believes, would mean that the party maintains control of the Senate.

“If we win Iowa, we’re going to do just fine,” Reid said. “Iowa is a key in what we do. You know, we’re doing really quite well now in New Hampshire. I think we’re going to win in North Carolina. I’m not going to go through all the races. Iowa is critical. There’s no other way to say it.”

In a separate report from the Huffington Post, Harry Reid claimed that Joni Ernst may be too extreme “even for the GOP.”

What do you think, readers?

Does Harry Reid have a point with his harsh criticisms of Joni Ernst, or is he targeting her based on sexism as some online commenters have claimed?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments section, along with your picks for what will happen on Tuesday.

[Image via American Spirit / Shutterstock.com]