Poll: Sen. Reid trailing even with Tea Party candidate to shake up the race

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would lose re-election even if a Tea Party candidate chips away support from his Republican opponent, according to a new poll released by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Previous polls had showed Reid trailing badly in a two-candidate race but eeking out a victory in a three-way campaign. But today’s poll shows a shift from that trend.

In an race against former Nevada Republican chairwoman Sue Lowden, Reid would garner 38% of the vote, compared to 46% for Lowden and 5% for Tea Party candidate Scott Ashijan.

The poll shows Lowden as the frontrunner for the nomination, with 45% of Republican respondents supporting her. Businessman Danny Tarkanian gets 27% support, followed by former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle at 5%.

Reid would fare better against Tarkanian. Reid is neck and neck with Tarkanian, each with 39% support. Ashijan would get 11% of the vote in such a scenario.