HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Protester Rob DeLaMare, left, uses a take from a speech Sen. Harry Reid made, saying oil made him sick. John Bixon, right, voted for Reid in the past but is now out to dump him. Advertisement

Protest organizer Gary Marchinke intends to hold protests against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid once a month until the end of summer 2010, building up to daily protests just before elections. "It's time for him to go," he said.

Marchinke's cause gathered about 10 sign-carrying protesters. However, dozens of cars and semi-trucks drove by during Wednesdays busy lunch hour and honked in support as the group held up signs on the corner of Highways 160 and 372.

The poster boards were made by the various protesters, each of whom had specific concerns.

Linda DeLaMare's sign read, "Reid my lips, Harry! Lowden clear: go home."

DeLaMare was quick to point out that Sue Lowden, chairwoman of Nevada's Republican Party is seeking to unseat Reid next year. As reported in the PVT in September, Lowden was favored over Reid by 10 percentage points in a statewide telephone survey completed that month by Rasmussen Reports.

DeLaMare said she decided to get involved when Reid, "as a senior member of congress, said the war was lost while we still had military men and women in harm's way."

DeLaMare's husband, Rob, said, "He is against any kind of drilling. He said drilling makes him sick. I think it is the duty of congress to drill for oil domestically for the safety and security of our own country. We need energy independence."

Protester John Bixon has lived in Pahrump for 13 years and has resided in Nevada for 45 years. "I helped that guy get elected and his first couple of terms he was middle of the road and was a pretty good senator. But he has drifted very far left," said Bixon. "I stopped supporting him when he didn't vote to impeach Clinton. That was what did it for me."

Ty Warbasse's sign simple read "Vote Harry Out". He grew up "in pre-Summerlin Las Vegas" and has lived in Pahrump since 2006. He moved looking for the kind of freedom he had when he was growing up.

"Nevada was full of freedom then," he said. "I don't care whether a candidate is a Democrat or a Republican, or what color or gender the person is.

"I want a representative who will abide by the state and national constitutions. Harry Reid is currently doing things that the Constitution does not even allow him to consider.

"They take an oath of office to uphold the state and national constitution," said Warbasse. "We elected him. We hired him for this job. Now it's time to fire him."

Marchinke said the response from the people driving by "has been great." Among his many reasons for believing Reid has reached the end of his effectiveness as a senator is because, "Harry wears two hats. There's the Harry who wears a cowboy hat when he visits Pahrump and the Harry in a top hat when he is in Washington catering to the liberals in congress." Marchinke has a one-page Web site, www.twohatharryreid.com.