Dispatch from Ely: Lowden, Gibbons, Sandoval, Tarkanian and others

Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 | 2:12 p.m.

These notes from a trusted source on the ground at the Ely Lincoln Day breakfast. Also at right is a picture of the Sue Lowden campaign bus, which arrived there this AM and is traveling the state. Guess she raised some money -- or paid for it herself -- for this mobile billboard.

Edited notes from source below -- my annotations are in parentheses:

White Pine Co Chairman Donna Bath set stage with Reagan's 11th Commandment. Candidates allowed 3-4 minutes to speak.

Gov. Jim Gibbons starts:

Honored to be present. Our nation and state are at a pivotal moment. A lot of candidates will tell you they won't raise taxes, I have stood by my word. Legislature raised your taxes.

Dean Heller:

"This is the year to replace Harry Reid"

Senate hopeful Mike Wiley:

‎​Wiley complaining about candidacy and nobody taking him seriously.

"Send money to me, not Scott Brown" (Calling the delusion police.)

Danny Tarkanian:

"You need an independent voice who will stand up for NV and to stand up to defend the Constitution. I will be an advocate. I belive in limited gov't. With the help of peeps like you we can make a difference. This time it is about putting NV first."

Senate hopeful Sue Lowden:

"Good to see all my friends again"

"I'm running because I am genuinely angry. I'm angry at the direction our country is going."

‎​"Who is the best contrast against Harry Reid. Who do you want debating Harry Reid in Ely, in Reno, in Elko, in Las Vegas, on Meet the Press..."

"Most critical vote ever made that impacts Nevadans today is right to work vote"

Senate hopeful John Chachas:

"Good to be home. I grew up here." Attended Columbia. Married for 20 years. Here b/c I'm disgusted w/ the Fed Gov't

Reading off a lot of facts and statistics.

‎​Wants to donate millions of acres back to NV. Land does not belong to BLM.

"Economy works when money goes back into the ground."

Sharron Angle:

‎​"Harry has failed Nevada. Waterboarded our economy. Harry, where is the next job? Time to give Pinky his pink slip."

Mark Amodei:

‎​"We need to shift from anybody but Reid to, but to who"

"Two categories that make me unique." Chair of Judiciary, understand the issues. Voted against budget. Its stupid to raise taxes during a recession. (But OK in 2003?)

Gov hopeful Brian Sandoval:

"Excited to be back in White Pine Co"

"Now is not the time to raise taxes"

"Going to be a tough campaign and we need not forget about the other Reid and the 2.5 million he just raised."

"Need a Republican in the Governor's Mansion for redistricting."

Gibbons:

"Regardless of the outcome of the primary, I will stand with the GOP nominee 110%"

Notable for his absence: Sen. John Ensign.