Manny Pacquiao's Political Endorsement Works for Nevada Senator Harry Reid

US Senate Majority Floor Leader and Bob Arum's friend Harry Reid has won his fifth term as Senator for the state of Nevada, after a fierce challenge from Republican candidate Sharron Angle.

Prior to Tuesday's polls, Senator Reid was uncertain about his chances for reelection, as challenger Sharron Angle threatened to pull away in several election survey results.

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, who recently arrived at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles from a four-week training in Baguio City in the Philippines, flew to Las Vegas last Thursday on invitation from his fellow politician and U.S. Senator Harry Reid.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum, who is a friend of Senator Reid, said it is important for Pacquiao to grace the occasion.

Arum told the Inquirer, in a phone interview, that Pacquiao’s presence at the Reid rally could influence a sizable Filipino-American community and help tilt the balance in favor of the Democratic Senate president, who has been facing the fight of his political life.

Fanhouse's Lem Satterfield reports:

"That was a great thing that Manny did for Harry, who is a very dear friend of mine. I think that Harry is really important to this country and that he has gotten really such a bad rap because of all of these Tea Party people," said Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum. "So, you know, I explained to Manny what Harry stands for, and that's what Manny stands for, and so they really bonded together well."

"Manny Pacquiao and I came from different parts of the world, but we came on the same side of the street," Reid said of Pacquiao, who is being interviewed by 60 Minutes for a feature that will be aired on Nov. 8, the Sunday prior to his bout with Margarito.

"Manny fights for those who cannot fight for themselves," said Reid. "It's not enough to fight yourself. It's not enough to want to be a champion. We want to be champions for others."

Manny Pacquiao's presence in the Las Vegas rally for Senator Harry Reid last Friday may have indeed tilted the balance in favor of the Senate Majority Floor Leader, who was uncertain about his political future less than a week before Tuesday's election.

The Filipino boxer, who is also a congressman back in the Philippines, is very popular among Las Vegas residents including a sizable number of Filipino-American voters in the state of Nevada.

Bob Arum must be very pleased with Senator Harry Reid's reelection and he knew Pacquiao played an important role in his friend's election victory.

Senator Reid is expected to acknowledge Manny Pacquiao's role in his election victory as soon as he is proclaimed and his victory becomes official.