Reid plans tour of 'red states' to discuss Republican scandals

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to take on Republicans in their own backyards when he visits five "red states" next month to promote a theme that Republican-led Washington is corrupt and needs to be cleaned up, a spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.

Reid, the Senate minority leader, has scheduled a three-day tour with stops in Phoenix; Denver; Salt Lake City; Pocatello, Idaho; and Omaha, Neb. All are in "Republican red" states that President Bush carried in the 2004 election.

"He wants to take his message to some of these red states that the Democrats want to clean up Washington," spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said. "He will be talking on the theme that America can do better and just letting these red states know who the Democrats are.

"The primary message will be the corruption in Washington and needing to change Washington," Hafen said.