Del Papa withdraws from U.S. Senate race

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 3:13 a.m.

By Tim Dahlberg

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

LAS VEGAS - Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, who vowed only last month to stay in the race for U.S. Senate, dropped out Wednesday, saying she could not raise enough money to be competitive.

It was the second withdrawal from a major statewide race in two years for Del Papa, who quit an earlier campaign for governor for similar reasons.

"The seats are being auctioned off to the highest bidder," Del Papa told The Associated Press in announcing her withdrawal.

Del Papa, who was running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, said she had raised only $320,000 and would have had to raise some $250,000 a month between now and the election to stay competitive.

The third-term Democrat said she had a "heart-to-heart talk" with U.S. Sen. Harry Reid over the weekend and decided at that time that she would pull out of the race.

"I once thought that to be U.S. Senator from Nevada would be the greatest job one could ever have," Del Papa said. "I still believe that, but the price I would have to pay is something regrettably I am unwilling to do. I care more about serving the public than I do about raising the money."

Del Papa's withdrawal leaves former U.S. Rep. John Ensign, a Republican who lost by 428 votes to Reid last year as the only major candidate in the race to succeed Bryan, who is stepping down after two terms in office.

Ensign, in a July report, said he had raised $1.1 million for his campaign, with about a quarter of it being donated by casino interests.

Del Papa, 49, said those same casino interests were not receptive to her candidacy.

"I think the financial reports speak for themselves," she said. "I've said all along it shouldn't be about money. Unfortunately, that is the dominating factor."

Del Papa's decision was in contrast to her claims just last month that "the rumors and questions of my demise as a candidate for the U.S. Senate have been overblown."

The veteran Democratic politician declared her candidacy in June, with a group of supporters hoisting campaign signs and cheering in front of her alma mater, Rancho High School, in Las Vegas.

"It's a different race," she said at the time. "We're all committed here."

Del Papa had the support of Bryan, who announced earlier this year he would not run again, as well as Reid and a number of other politicians.

That didn't prove enough, though, to overcome money raising problems that saw her get only $46,000 through July from casino interests.

Del Papa withdrew in October 1997 from the race for governor under similar conditions, saying she couldn't match the campaign chest of now-Gov. Kenny Guinn. She ran for a third term as attorney general, and won easily.

Del Papa said she would serve out her term as attorney general before deciding what to do next.

Asked if the second withdrawal in as many campaigns meant the end of her as a candidate for other statewide offices, Del Papa said:

"Probably."