“Harry-kiri,” the boss calls it.

New polling confirms that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) is mired near 40% in general election ballot tests against all potential opponents, even those voters know nothing about. It will be extremely difficult for him to pull out a win, as Sens. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and John Sununu (R-NH), and more recently New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D), found out.

Reid’s most recent controversial comments don’t help because they keep the story focused on him, rather than on his opponents. Given Reid’s current standing with voters, he should be viewed as a slight underdog for reelection, which is why we are moving this race from Toss-up to Lean Takeover for the GOP.

Not only is he crashing, he’s taking his kid down with him, which is why I still think there’s a fair chance he’s going to retire — especially if Brown shocks the world in Massachusetts. Via Greg Hengler, here’s Obama reassuring an interviewer that Reid’s a “good man,” notwithstanding his (a) insinuations during the campaign that McCain was unstable, (b) denigration of townhall protesters as “evilmongers,” (c) belittling of Petraeus as an incompetent liar while the surge was starting up in Iraq, and (d) aspersions cast upon the intelligence of Clarence Thomas. And that’s the tip of the iceberg. He’s a cheap, nasty demagogue, but he’s also politically useful to The One, ergo he’s a “good man.” I can’t wait for November.

Update: A belated exit question: If Reid stupidly insists on running this race and is still in the toilet come, say, August, will Obama risk his own political capital by campaigning for him? Because he’s such a good man and all, you know.