Gephardt cancels visit to Las Vegas

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 | 8:41 a.m.

House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt ironically had to cancel a visit to Las Vegas on Monday to discuss airport security after the American Airlines jet crashed in New York City.

Gephardt, D-Missouri, was also supposed to help raise money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during an event Monday night.

"Certainly anytime that Nevadans have the opportunity to host Gephardt it's important because of his leadership in Congress," said Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera, a Democrat vying for Congress.

"But he obviously had to attend to matters that are more serious for the country."

Mark Nevins, spokesman for the Democratic campaign committee, said Gephardt changed his planned travel from St. Louis after learning of the plane crash Monday morning.

"This morning after he got wind of the crash he canceled his schedule and headed back to D.C.," Nevins said.

The campaign committee works on behalf of all Democratic congressional candidates nationwide, raising money and offering grass-roots assistance. The group's goal is to wrest control of the House from Republicans, who currently hold a five-seat edge.

Herrera said Monday's fund-raiser was not specifically designed to pull in money for him and incumbent Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., but Gephardt's presence was supposed to help entice Democrats to open their wallets.

Nevins said Gephardt has no immediate plans to reschedule.

Gephardt was also supposed to tour McCarran International Airport and hold a press conference to discuss airport security measures.