Porter defends LV visit by betting-ban backer McCain

Greg Tuttle

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

Congressional hopeful Jon Porter made no apologies Wednesday for inviting Sen. John McCain to Las Vegas, ground zero in the popular Arizona Republican's effort to kill college sports betting.

And McCain nimbly dodged potential fallout from a planned fund-raising event that would have had the former presidential candidate mingling for money with a dozen Las Vegas sports book operators who stand to lose the most if McCain makes good on his pledge to clean up college sports.

McCain, who recently ran for president, was in Las Vegas to stump for Porter, a state senator from Henderson challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

Polls have Berkley leading the race up to the November election, but Porter is getting support from top Republicans who view Nevada's 1st Congressional District seat as critical to maintaining their slim majority in the House of Representatives.

On Tuesday House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was in Las Vegas to rally Republicans behind Porter. The Republican leader reportedly helped Porter raise $80,000 during his visit.

But a fund-raising effort planned for McCain's visit flopped when McCain learned the gathering was to be hosted by American Wagering Chairman Vic Salerno and about a dozen others who operate sports books in Las Vegas. McCain said during a press conference at Cashman Field he called off the fund-raiser to avoid the appearance that the gaming operators were paying Porter to lobby him.

McCain has been the prime sponsor of legislation that would ban betting on college sports, an effort he said Wednesday is supported by coaches across the country.

"They are passionate in their advocacy for this issue," McCain said.

Porter opposes the proposed ban.

McCain touched another hot-button issue for Nevada, which also puts his politics at odds with Porter. McCain said there is "no viable alternative" to building a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles north of Las Vegas.

"We have to put this nuclear waste somewhere," McCain said.

Porter is among the majority of Nevada politicians who have spoken against the Yucca Mountain project.

But Porter and McCain praised each other to a crowd of about 70 veterans and others following the press conference. McCain described Porter as "eminently qualified to serve in Congress."

Porter said Nevada politicians have "created a sense of isolationism" by being afraid to invite to the state those who have opposing views on some issues.

"The era of fear in politics must change," he said.