Joe Biden, Harry Reid among prominent Democrats expected at Dallas fundraiser | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Joe Biden, Harry Reid among prominent Democrats expected at Dallas fundraiser | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

By ROBERT T. GARRETT and TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
rtgarrett@dallasnews.com; tgillman@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – Vice President Joe Biden and three powerful Democratic senators are coming to Dallas to raise money for their party’s U.S. Senate candidates Friday evening.

Biden, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana will attend the reception, according to an invitation to the fundraiser obtained by The Dallas Morning News.

The event will be held at the home of Dallas environmental plaintiff's lawyer Russell Budd and his wife, Dorothy. Proceeds will go to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The committee has been working to shore up Reid who, despite his leadership post, is considered one of the most endangered members of the Senate.

He trails far lesser-known Republicans by wide margins, and on Tuesday, nonpartisan analyst Stuart Rothenberg downgraded his chances of winning another term this fall, moving his rating of the Nevada contest from "toss-up" to "lean takeover" for Republicans.

The GOP's Senate campaign arm, chaired by Texas Sen. John Cornyn, is hoping for a replay of 2004, when they managed to unseat Democratic leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota.

Earlier Friday, Reid will attend a fundraiser for his own re-election bid at the La Cima Club, then join local officials for a tour of development projects in Las Colinas' Urban Center.

Russell Budd is a partner in the Dallas law firm of Baron & Budd.

According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, it has been one of Biden's top donors through his Senate career.

Remember the name Russell Budd and the law firm of Baron & Budd. They can run, but they can't hide. Now they are exposed for what they really are. Don't forget Dorothy.