Powell to speak at Mirage dinner

Friday, April 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Retired Army Gen. Colin Powell, courted by Republicans as a vice presidential candidate, is set to speak Aug. 2 at The Mirage. His appearance comes one week before the start of the GOP convention in San Diego.

The dinner -- with tickets ranging in price from $150-$350 -- is hosted by the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a Reno-based think tank that hopes to raise $100,000 to develop an Internet home page encouraging cooperation between environmental and business interests.

Powell, who says he has taken himself out of consideration as Bob Dole's running mate, addressed the National Automotive Dealers Association in Las Vegas in February.

For more information, call Judy Cresanta at 786-9600.

Ensign and labor

During campaign season, politicians have to labor to attract attention. That became evident Thursday to Rep. John Ensign, whose town hall meeting at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo Road competed with a media stunt staged by groups trying to unseat him.

About 30 representatives of organized labor rallied outside the library, displaying a placard "grading" Ensign's first-term in Congress. According to those present, Republican Ensign received F's in six categories, including "Standing Up For Working Families."

Inside the library, Ensign told supporters he has helped crack down on illegal immigration, worked to end subsidies to corporate farms and voted for legislation that would hasten the death penalty.

Clinton ads

The answer: President Clinton. The question: Name the first political candidate this year to go negative on Nevada TV.

Clinton's ads blast Dole for opposing the president's plans to overhaul welfare, reduce taxes and ban assault rifles.

Clinton is targeting states such as Nevada where he won narrowly over President George Bush in 1992.

Jerry Dondero, chairman of Dole's Nevada steering committee, said Clinton is tipping his hand by airing attack ads this early in the campaign.

"They must be running scared," he said.