WASHINGTON — Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid is dismissing the tea party as short-lived, saying it will “disappear” once the economy gets better.

The Nevada Democrat prevailed last November in a tough re-election race against tea party-backed candidate Sharron Angle.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that’s set to air Sunday, Reid was asked if he believes the tea party will be a lasting political force.

Reid says the tea party movement emerged because of the country’s economic problems. But he says the tea party will no longer exist when the economy improves — and he says the economy is getting better every day.