LV lawyer considers run for Bryan’s seat

Benjamin Grove

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999 | 11:12 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas trial lawyer Edward Bernstein is in Washington this week meeting with political leaders as he nears a decision on whether to run for the U.S. Senate.

Bernstein said he was "getting closer" to announcing his plans -- perhaps within 10 days -- whether or not to seek the seat being vacated by Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev.

If he decides to run, Bernstein would be the leading Democratic challenger to Republican John Ensign, who Bernstein called "very beatable."

"I don't think (Ensign) resonates with the average voter. I think he is too far to the right," Bernstein said in an interview with the Sun Monday.

Ensign campaign manager Mike Slanker said the Ensign campaign would not change if Bernstein entered the race.

"The John Ensign campaign has always been about what John Ensign can do for the state of Nevada," Slanker said. "It's never been about Frankie Sue Del Papa or (Sun editor) Brian Greenspun or Ed Bernstein. We never expected it to be a runaway no matter who was in it."

If he ran, Bernstein would slip into the Democratic front-runner position abandoned by Del Papa, Nevada's attorney general who withdrew from the race last week citing her inability to raise campaign money.

Bernstein on Monday met with Bryan's chief-of-staff Jean Neal and later with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. At both meetings Bernstein "talked about what is involved in running a U.S. Senate campaign," he said.

"The senator is very encouraged by Mr. Bernstein and his desire to potentially be a candidate," Reid spokesman Jack Pannell said.

Bernstein, who arrived in the capital Sunday, plans also to meet with other Democratic leaders, among them Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., before he returns to Las Vegas on Thursday.

"I'm going to be asking them a lot of questions," Bernstein said.

Bernstein also plans to meet with freshman Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., a trial attorney elected with no political experience.

Bernstein said he was not ready to discuss his stances on the issues facing Nevada in Congress. He said he first wanted to make a decision about how a run for Senate would affect his family, including his young children. Bernstein's wife, Nancy, is traveling with him this week.

"I want to make sure I am doing the right thing for my family," Bernstein said. "I'm not going to run unless I am absolutely certain I can win."

Bernstein, who has made a name for himself as an aggressive attorney -- and self-promoter through aggressive advertising -- said he would be willing to use his own money to help finance a campaign.

"I've worked hard my whole life, started with nothing, built up a business and I'm willing to put in my life's work," Bernstein said. He added that he has fielded "lots of calls" from potential campaign donors.

Bernstein has been planning his Washington trip for about a month -- since before he learned Del Papa would pull out of the race.

"I've known her for a long time, and I thought she was a great candidate," Bernstein said. "I was sorry to see her leave because of money issues -- that's not what politics is supposed to be about."

Bernstein said he believed his candidacy would strike a chord with the same kind of voters who supported other candidates with little to no political experience, such as Gov. Kenny Guinn and Mayor Oscar Goodman, another high-profile attorney.

"You have the three of us who have worked hard in our private lives and came to politics late with a great deal of insight and wisdom and success," Bernstein said. "It's a lot different than someone who depends on politics for a living."

Bryan agreed, saying that Bernstein's money, high name recognition and lack of political experience would make him a viable candidate. Beyond being an attractive candidate, Bryan said "I think he would definitely do a good job" in the Senate.

"He has that ability to get people to rally behind him," said Bryan, who met with Bernstein over iced tea during the congressional break in August.

"He's very enthusiastic."