Reporting from Las Vegas — Sen. Harry Reid strolled into Nevada Democratic Party headquarters just before lunch Tuesday to thank volunteers busily phoning voters who had yet to cast their ballots. He handed a small loaf of banana nut bread wrapped in yellow cellophane to Ruth Fuggins, though she wasn't exactly sure why.
Fuggins, a 66-year-old retired bank supervisor, has been volunteering for the Democrat's campaign for about a year, but doesn't know Reid personally. Regardless, she was touched by the somewhat awkward gesture: Reid isn't a show boater and Fuggins appreciated that.
"Harry Reid started small," she said. "He didn't start with a silver spoon in his mouth. He accomplished a lot, but he worked hard for it."
Fuggins figured she'd save the bread to eat during the holidays.
Reid, who's running neck-and-neck with Republican Sharron Angle, spoke in a stuffy room that had clearly been a hive of campaign activity. Strewn about: written requests for rides to the polls, bumper stickers saying "Angle: Just Too Extreme," and empty energy drinks and Carl's Jr. cups. Sheets of paper on a wall spelled out "COUNTDOWN 2 VICTORY!!!"
Running neck-and-neck with Angle, Reid reminisced about his days as an amateur boxer, when his victories came from strategy, not strength.
"Most of my fights didn't end in knockouts, so I had to wait for a decision," he said. So it would be tonight.
As he had done in an earlier appearance, Reid boasted about his ground game, which he called the best of any non-presidential candidate's.
And, "frankly, it's a lot better than most of those," he said.
When he turned to leave, reporters in the press gaggle called out questions. Reid had fielded some earlier Tuesday – and at numerous campaign stops in recent weeks.
"I'm pressed out," said Reid, winding down his final scheduled public appearance before vote totals were released.
ashley.powers@latimes.com
