NOTA for Senate

Frank Patten, a prominent Reno native, is urging a vote for “None of these candidates” in the U.S. Senate race.

Patten finds both Republican Sharron Angle and Democrat Harry Reid unacceptable. He faults Reid for opposing the New York City Islamic cultural center, calling it “final proof that this man is not to be trusted, should not be re-elected, will not remain long as Majority Leader or even Minority Leader, partly because of his religious bigotry of past days.” He faults Angle for a bleak vision: “In fact, she is the candidate of the Big Borrasca. Her platform is simply, it’s over. Leave. Get out of town on the next bus. Go back where you came from. She is the candidate of despair and of doom.”

“None of these candidates” (NOTC) is a ballot option in statewide races in Nevada. It serves as a protest vote, though it is non-binding. That is, even if NOTC wins, the first-place human winner still gets the office.