Bush, Gore lead in campaign funds raised in Nevada

Sunday, March 5, 2000 | 9:24 a.m.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush raised far more cash from Nevadans since last year than any other presidential candidate even though the Republican made no appearances in the state.

Bush raised $297,950 between Jan. 1, 1999, and last Jan. 31, according to the FECInfo Internet website. FECInfo reported that his closest GOP rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, raised $109,708, but that was only for the 10-month period from April 1, 1999 to Jan. 31. The website did not break out McCain's Nevada contributions for the first three months of 1999.

Activist Alan Keyes, the other Republican in the field, raised a mere $4,990 from Nevadans last year.

Vice President Al Gore, who made a fund-raising appearance in Las Vegas in October, reported $164,915 over the past 13 months, well ahead of the $32,600 collected by his Democratic foe, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley.

Nearly one-fourth of Bush's money, $72,000, came from gaming industry executives and their spouses even though he has made critical remarks about the spread of casinos. McCain received $23,500 from casino executives and their spouses in the last 10 months. He also received $7,000 total from the Mirage Resorts, International Game Technology and Boyd Gaming political action committees, and a $4,840 in-kind contribution from the MGM Grand political action committee.

Even though Gore's fund-raiser was at Harrah's hotel-casino, he only raised $8,000 from gaming executives and their spouses. Bradley received $2,250 from gaming-related contributors.

Noteworthy Bush contributors included Binion's Horseshoe owner Becky Behnen, Clark County politician Robert Broadbent, Mandalay Resort Group Chairman Michael Ensign, Gov. Kenny Guinn, Republic Silver State Disposal President Stephen Kalish, MGM Grand Inc. Chairman Terry Lanni, former Gov. Robert List, former state Sen. Sue Lowden, International Game Technology Chairman Charles Mathewson, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, media consultant Sig Rogich, golf course developer and professional gambler Billy Walters, Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, and Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn.

Donors to McCain included Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson, boxing promoter Robert Arum, Horseshoe owner Jack Binion, Caesars World Chairman Peter Boynton, MGM Grand majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian, Lanni, Mathewson, Mandalay Resort executive Mike Sloan, Walters and Wynn. Rogich also contributed to McCain even though he is state finance chairman to the Bush campaign.

Gore's contributors included Arum, former Congressman James Bilbray, Boyd Gaming executive William Boyd, former U.S. Sen. Howard Cannon, Diamond Resorts International President Stephen Cloobeck, former Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Bill Curran, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, Coast Resorts controlling shareholder Michael Gaughan, Sun President and Editor Brian Greenspun, Harrah's executive Philip Satre, and Sloan.

In the battle of competing local topless dancing clubs, Bush received $1,000 from Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo and Gore collected the same amount from Olympic Garden owner Peter Eliades.