Chance, you should have asked me. I live in Nevada and stood front and center to that debacle.
I, too, have heard that conspiracy rumor about Sharron Angle. I find it an interesting theory to ponder, but in the end, I'd have to classify it as "probably untrue".
A lot of goofy right-wingers live in Nevada. We have a party that calls itself the Independent American Party that stands for nothing less than a theocracy. One of their people--a woman named Lezlie Porter--actually suggested placing spies in public schools, to make sure that the curriculum stayed "faith-friendly". Sharron Angle joined that party and stayed a strong supporter for many years. The only reason she became a Republican in the first place was that she knew she'd not get elected any other way. (You could call her a RINO in reverse, probably).
Her primary opponent was a woman (not a man, as you suggested) named Sue Loudon. She should have won the primary--and if she had, Harry Reid would not have a seat today--but she made some incredibly stupid tactical blunders. In addition, the Independent American Party people actively campaigned against her.
Even most Republicans today think of Sharron Angle as "crazy". Indeed, some of her statements (and actions) seem to reflect traits of paranoid schizophrenia.
The Reno Gazette-Journal conducted an indepth, precinct-by-precinct study on the causes of her loss. They concluded that moderate Republicans--horrified beyond belief by her candidacy--were responsible for her loss, not Democrats.
In the end, I think Harry Reid just got incredibly lucky. I think you have given him much too much credit.
