Gibbons considers possible run for Nevada governor

[goobergunch]

Associated Press

9/1/2003 02:50 pm

Rep. Jim Gibbons said he is putting together a cabinet of organizers and county coordinators to prepare for a possible run for Nevada governor in 2006.

Gibbons, R-Nev., said Monday he may also consider running for the U.S. Senate in 2006 if incumbent senator and fellow Republican John Ensign doesn't seek re-election (like that's going to happen-GG), the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard reported in a copyrighted story to be published Tuesday.

"John Ensign has given every indication he will run in 2006, so unless he changes his mind, I am focusing on the race for governor in three years,"Gibbons told the newspaper.

Gibbons, 58, said education would be a main issue in his campaign.

more...http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2003/09/01/50647.php?sp1=rgj&sp2=News&sp3=Local+News

[ButterflyBlood]

1. there has been some talk of Ensign for governor

so maybe he won't seek reelection and Gibbons will go for this Senate seat. Otherwise I'll bet Gibbons runs for governor. Just as long as Gibbons doesn't run against Reid I don't care.

Also is there any chance of knocking off Ensign? He won by a comfortable margin, but I hear he had a weak opponent.

[jiacinto]

2. Only Bob Miller (D-NV) could give him a run

nt

[ButterflyBlood]

3. who's that?

[goobergunch]

4. Former Governor (D) (n/t)

[Flying_Pig]

5. Ensign is a putz...

He barely won, against one of the worst run Democratic campaigns I have ever seen. It was almost like she ran to lose, and it was all window dressing to make believe there was/is democracy. Personally, I think Ensign was annointed by the casino powers, and Jan just went through the motions. Ensign can be beat.

As far as Gibbons goes, I doubt he would do well against a good Dem candidate for Gov. Las Vegas has become the "big dog" in the state, and is highly Democratic, and it's going to get harder and harder for these right-wing suckers to get elected. Nevada has always been a mix of moderates, from both sides, until Ensign and Gibbons. They lucked out, but both will fail in the future.

As far as Reid goes, his last campaign was also terribly run, and he barely won (against Ensign). I couldn't believe it. I worked the first campaign Harry ever ran, and every one since, but his last, ...was almost his last. Unfortunately, he's tied his wagon to the do-nothing Tom Daschle, the most pink-tutu Dem that has ever held a leadership position in the history of this nation, and this is going to hurt Harry. He's going to have to fight like hell to hold on to his seat, if the Repugs put up someone half good, despite the heavy Dem registration in Las Vegas now.

Anyway, Nevada politics is always fun, and because the state is so small, you can get close to these people, and look them in the eye.

[NewJerseyDem]

6. Ensign won easily

His last race was in 2000 when he got the seat by beating a guy named Ed Bernstein by 15 percentage points. He won that open seat so easily that I would doubt that he could lose except against a really strong opponent.

[mndemocrat_29]

7. I think that Gibbons probably will run for Governor

That's just a hunch on my part. The only person who could beat him for the nomination would be Sen. John Ensign, and I doubt he'll run.

As for Democrats trying to beat Ensign, very few come to mind that could. If the seat were open, For. Atty. Gen. Frankie Sue Del Papa or Rep. Shelley Berkley would be strong competitors. Berkley could possibly take down Ensign, but it would take a strong Democratic sweep (which actually will probably be occuring in 2006).

The best bets would be two former governors: Bob Miller or Richard Bryan. I doubt that Bryan would want to return to the Senate (he's the man who Ensign replaced), and I don't know enough about Miller to say one way or the other.

[Doomsayer13]

8. As for the Democratic Candidate

I think Oscar Goodman, Democratic Mayor of Las Vegas wants a shot at statewide. I think he considered running against Kenny Guinn but decided agianst it becuase he wasn't masochistic enough to do something stupid like that. Really, other than Goodman (who apparently has mafia ties) the only other Dem candidate I can think of is Shelly Berkeley and I really doubt she could win statewide.

Ensign will probably seek re-election to the Senate and run for Governor in 2012 or something to close out his career.