A ‘pressed out’ Sen. Harry Reid thanks volunteers

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