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Nevada's Angle-Reid Senate Race Leaves Vegas Resident Apathetic To Voting

Jenny Chen |
October 29, 2010 | 7:02 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Democratic incumbent Sen. Harry Reid has a tough battle between Republican Sharron Angle. (Creative Commons)
Democratic incumbent Sen. Harry Reid has a tough battle between Republican Sharron Angle. (Creative Commons)
Controversy and accusations swirling about Nevada’s election has left Mike Minh determined to avoid voting on Nov. 2. 

Although concerned for Nevada’s future, Minh refuses to support either candidate because he doesn’t know much about them. Despite watching ads and reading the news online, Minh hasn’t seen anything to convince him that Republican Sharron Angle or Democrat incumbent Harry Reid should be elected.

Minh, 57, who currently resides in Vegas, is manager of the Advanced Beauty of Cosmetology with a Republican voting history. This year Minh sees the image of the parties overshadowing the candidate’s platforms. 

The two parties are just “play[ing] a game on each other,” Minh said. 

Nevada’s Senate race is highly controversial as both Republicans and Democrats have been accused of election fraud.  Democrats are rumored to have tampered with voting machines to automatically record votes for Reid and to have illegally bought votes with free food and Starbucks gift cards

Republicans allegedly intimidated early voters, took pictures as voters entered polls, and provided election literature to them. 

Recent polls indicate Angle has a four point lead over Reid at 49-45. The Nevada election is being closely watched to see if Angle will unseat the Senate Majority Leader Reid. After nearly 30 years in Washington, Reid’s departure could mean a significant change in the Senate. 

Minh had hoped for a candidate who cares about the public to represent the state of Nevada. Now, people are only focused on the political party and not the candidate’s take on issues.

“I hate that,” Minh said. 

Minh said he isn’t the only person who feels this way, noting that people in Nevada really do care about the election. He said the public is really upset with the government as they grapple with unemployment, lack of insurance and health care problems. 

“What happens if you go to [a] hospital? If you lose your job? [We] need someone to cover that,” Minh said, calling Obama’s health care plans ineffective. Minh hopes the elected senator can focus on health care and the economy.

It may be too late for either candidate to ask Minh for his vote. Perhaps, if the issues had taken precedent in the campaigns, Minh might have found someone to support. 

Reach Reporter Jenny Chen here.

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