Bernstein begins fund-raising

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999 | 10:44 a.m.

Longtime Las Vegas attorney Ed Bernstein says he is no politician, even though he is forming an exploratory campaign committee for a likely U.S. Senate bid.

So inexperienced is he at politics that, after filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, Bernstein, for the first time ever, got on the telephone as a political candidate asking for money.

"In just two hours I raised $80,000 -- I'm told by experts that that is some kind of a record," Bernstein, 50, said today. "You can only get (up to) $2,000 from each person, and I was surprised at the generosity and support."

Bernstein, who admits to being behind Republican John Ensign -- a former Nevada representative in the lower house -- in both money raised and in the polls, denies speculation that he will totally bankroll his campaign.

"I have three young children -- ages 3, 5 and 11 -- and I cannot jeopardize their financial future on this campaign," he said. "I've worked hard all of my life and saved a small nest egg from which I will use about $200,000.

"I think it is important to put some of your own money into a race especially when you are going to ask others for money. But I will never raise as much as John Ensign."

Bernstein estimates that if he indeed decides to run, he will raise about $3 million to Ensign's $5 million.

"Unfortunately, it does take that kind of money, especially with television being so expensive," said Ensign spokesman Mike Slanker. "Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev) spent $4.9 million and outspent us by $1.5 million."

Reid defeated Ensign by 428 votes last year. Ensign and Bernstein are seeking the seat of retiring Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev.

Bernstein says he will take his time and weigh a number of factors, including how it will affect his family, before deciding whether to run. He expects to make a final decision "possibly by the end of the year."

Bernstein says the things he has going in his favor are that, as an attorney, he has helped 35,000 Nevada families, and he has name and face recognition through his television ads and weekly TV talk show.

Bernstein said he is opposed to the proposed nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain, an issue he says Ensign has swayed on. And Bernstein says he is for patients' rights in their struggles with health maintenance organizations that deny benefits. He says Ensign has favored HMOs while in Congress.

"Mr. Bernstein could not be any more wrong," Slanker said. "John Ensign has fought as hard as anyone in Congress to keep nuclear waste out of Nevada. And John Ensign favors the right for patients to sue HMOs."