Harry Reid is in deep trouble in Nevada.  His poll numbers are tanking.  Conservative State Republican Chairwoman and former Miss America runner-up Sue Lowden (above) has pulled ahead of businessman Danny Tarkanian.  Either nominee is poised to deliver a double digit demolition to Harry Reid.

Only one person can save Harry Reid.  Could it be Barack Obama?  Well, actually, Obama has campaigned for Harry Reid, which apparently further damaged Reid’s poll numbers.  The person who can save Harry Reid is … John Ashjian.

The newly registered Tea Party Candidate siphons the vote off from the likely nominee Sue Lowden, cutting her lead over Harry Reid from 12% to 5%.  With Harry Reid unable to save himself, his only hope is for John Ashjian to turn Nevada into a three way race that would allow Reid to pull to victory with only Democratic (and no Independent) votes.

However, turning it into a three way race will be a tall order for the unknown newcomer.  He has been condemned by Nevada Tea Party groups, who claim he has never been an activist.  He is under investigation for fraud in his business practice at the same time as he is about to come under scrutiny as a fraud candidate in the race.  With conservative media personalities who drive out of state grassroots fundraising (like Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levine) adamantly opposed to his spoiler role, his fundraising numbers are likely to be anemic.

His only natural ally will be the over-eager media attempting to milk his story, but they will be just as eager to print GOP accusations that he is a plant by the Reid campaign as anything he wants them to print.  And finally, he is presumably attempting to run to the right of Sue Lowden, which is difficult because she has not left much ideological elbow room to her right (which is why Sharron Angle, the most conservative candidate in the primary, has been a non-factor thus far).

In spite of the media hype surrounding the Nevada Tea Party, it looks like a red herring that will not quite be able to save Harry Reid.  But it will make things interesting … and tricky.

Polling Scorecard If Election Was Held Today – Republicans Pick Up 7 Seats.

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Late breaking update: Huffington Post reports that Jon Scott Ashjian owes more than $200,000 in back taxes.