In what could come back to haunt the National Rifle Association should the Democrats hold on to the Senate, the organization will not endorse the body's majority leader - Harry Reid - for reelection.

While he NRA flirted with possibly backing Reid the pro-Second Amendment group came under intense conservative pressure not to do so.

Reid had been courting the NRA, even going so far as to help secure $61 million for a shooting center in Reid's home state of Nevada. The NRA praised Reid's efforts and appeared on the brink of endorsing him for reelection. Just as it had for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. The group likewise has contributed nearly $5,000 to Reid's campaign.

However, in an August 27 posting on the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action's web site, the NRA cited Reid's support to confirm both Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. Both are widely viewed by gun owners as being intolerant of Second Amendment rights.

Interestingly, too, it took the NRA all the way to practically the end of its web page release to even mention Reid and that the organization won't be supporting Reid.

Also, it is being said in at least one Nevada newspaper that the NRA will not endorse Reid's Republican challenger on Nov. 2; Sharron Angle.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com