Gore has yet to receive formal endorsements from Nevada politicians

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 | 11:17 a.m.

The three Democrats in Nevada's congressional delegation have voiced support for Vice President Al Gore's presidential nomination but have not yet made formal endorsements.

Rep. Shelly Berkley supports Gore because of his opposition to the interim storage of nuclear waste in Nevada and his view that gambling should be regulated at the state and local levels, not by the federal government, according to Laura Chapin, a Berkley spokeswoman.

Sens. Richard Bryan and Harry Reid plan to support Gore over his rival for the Democratic nomination, former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey.

"If the Gore campaign asked for Senator Bryan's endorsement now, he would give it, but it's awfully early," Bryan spokesman Tom Foulkes said.

Reid, a close friend of Gore, has referred to him as "the third senator from Nevada."

"The senator unequivocally supports Al Gore," Reid spokesman Jack Pannell said. "The Reid family has been friends with the Gore family for years, and the senator and vice president served in the House and Senate together."

The only Republican member of the Nevada delegation, Rep. Jim Gibbons, is not yet prepared to support or endorse any of the GOP candidates, spokesman Robert Uithoven said.

"The congressman will wait until he gets a chance to hear the positions of the candidates on issues affecting Nevada like nuclear waste, mining and gaming," Uithoven said.