New GOP chair: We need to raise money, register voters and get them out – that is, do what the Democrats do

Monday, July 11, 2011 | 3:34 p.m.

In a brief speech Monday to the Nevada Republican Men’s Club, recently elected state Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian told the faithful said she was meeting this week with Gov. Brian Sandoval and congressional hopeful Mark Amodei’s team to start reviving the GOP for 2012.

Tarkanian’s speech, delivered as her husband Danny recorded it on his phone as he ate (marvelous multitasking) at Cili, was light on specifics but long on ebullience. She spoke almost reverently about Harry Reid’s 2010 machine and suggested the Republicans should mimic the Reid-led 2008 presidential caucus and allow same-day registration to increase turnout. (The 116,000 Democratic turnout three years ago included 30,000 new registrations on Caucus Day).

“They are organized, they are motivated,” Tarkanian said of Democrats here and nationally. “These people view it almost as a bloodsport. We need to take it more seriously.”

Tarkanian said the Democrats will “portray us as evil, full of hate, people who don’t like Hispanics, people who don't like the elderly, people who don’t like children.”

Frightening. Sounds like a project for Wes Craven to direct.

Tarkanian painted the situation in stark, coarse terms: “If there is no stability (in the GOP), we are screwed, plain and simple.”

Tarkanian talked about more grass-roots advocacy, including walks planned this week for Amodei in Clark County. She also mentioned meetings with key GOP officials to help reanimate the party, including one Tuesday with Gov. Brian Sandoval. The key, she distilled: “Donate donate, donate.”

Tarkanian lamented that elected officials (I bet she was thinking of John Ensign) have not assisted the party with fundraising and infrastructure. “For some reason, that has not happened in the past,” she said, after insisting she had commitments from Sandoval, Rep. Joe Heck and Sen. Dean Heller to bolster the party.

Many in the crowd talked of a new era in the GOP, with an unusually excited Assemblyman Lynn Stewart giving Tarkanian his blessing as he stood up and said, “She’s young, a woman, (pause) a good-looking woman.” Yes, he said that.

Tarkanian said she was hoping the party will sponsor presidential forums and that the candidates will flock here after the Ames straw poll next month in Iowa. “I am supposed to be speaking to Gov. (Rick) Perry (of Texas) one on one,” she gushed.

Tarkanian told me she still has to get her “sea legs,” but promised to come on “Face to Face” soon. It will be interesting to see if her obvious energy and enthusiasm can translate into substantial dollars, expert advice and tangible results.