Reid's opponent, former state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R), has placed the blame for Nevada's economic woes squarely on Reid's shoulders. Her latest TV ad highlights the state's record unemployment and charges that Reid "has dragged Nevada down to perhaps its lowest point ever."

Reid contended in today's interview that "it would take a real stretch" in order to think that he caused the country's economic problems. Instead, Reid argued, he worked against many of the policies enacted during the administration of George W. Bush that were to blame for the economic crisis.

"I don't have any hand in what took place during the Bush administration. I tried to rein that in," Reid said.