Ensign follows Reid’s role in fund-raising

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002 | 11:15 a.m.

Sen. John Ensign is backing up his support for fellow Republicans by dumping $158,500 to Nevada candidates and starting a tradition for his party similar to the one that Democrats have enjoyed with Sen. Harry Reid.

Ensign's Battle Born Political Action Committee raised $326,021 and spent $251,551 for the period ending Aug. 22, according to a report filed Tuesday with the secretary of state's office.

And with a Nov. 6 change in campaign finance law pending which would essentially ban soft money contributions to candidates, Ensign is making his statement now.

"I think he's trying to do his part," said Mike Slanker, Ensign's 2000 campaign manager and PAC manager, said. "Harry Reid set a precedent a few years back by doling out money to Democratic candidates. It would be irresponsible for Republicans to let Sen. Reid be out there alone."

Reid's Searchlight Leadership PAC has set the standard in Nevada in soft money donations and gained national attention for helping Democrats in races around the country.

Ensign has had a good working relationship with Reid, the assistant majority leader, and has taken cues from Nevada's senior senator on Yucca Mountain strategy. Slanker said Ensign was following Reid's example with his PAC.

The Searchlight PAC has been busy donating $177,833 to Democratic House and Senate candidates nationwide, according to the PAC's latest Federal Election Commission filing.

Reid has been less busy at home this cycle, but has already donated the maximum $10,000 to state Democratic candidates like John Lee for controller and John Hunt for attorney general.

The most recent FEC report shows a $5,000 donation to Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley's re-election campaign and two $5,000 donations to Democrat Dario Herrera's bid for Nevada's new congressional seat.

"Both senators may as well go out with a bang," Slanker said of the pending campaign law change.

Neither Ensign nor Reid, who are both traveling out of the country, nor their key staff members, could be reached for comment this morning.

Shortly before the special session of the Legislature to address medical malpractice insurance, Ensign's PAC sent a letter to Republican lawmakers and state legislative candidates asking them to sign a pledge supporting tort reform in order to be considered for future campaign contributions from the PAC.

Ensign made good on that promise this summer, dumping cash into state Assembly and Senate races, and picking sides in one Republican primary by going against incumbent Assemblywoman Merle Berman who did not sign the pledge. Berman's opponent in the District 2 race, Dr. Garn Mabey, got Ensign's $5,000.

The PAC gave $15,000 to the Nevada Republican Party, $10,000 to Nevada Republican Leadership and $5,000 to Republican Assembly Leadership.

Attorney General candidate Brian Sandoval, state Senator Maurice Washington, Assembly candidates Luis Valera, Geny del Rosario, Jason Geddes and Pete Goicoechea each received the maximum $10,000 state limit for primary and general elections.

Paul Brown, Southern Nevada director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, said that kind of money, particularly in legislative races, can win races.

"Almost always with state Assembly and Senate races, the candidate with the most money wins," Brown said. "Barring a scandal or an exception in an Assembly district primary race where grass-roots efforts can make a difference, the money wins."

In 2000, only two state legislative candidates who spent less than their opponents won: state Sen. Joe Neal in a primary and Assemblywoman Kathy McClain in the general.

Ensign gave $5,000 a piece to Republican Senate candidates Warren Hardy, Sandra Tiffany, Richard Bunker and Bill Brady, who has since dropped out of the race. He gave $7,000 to state Treasurer Brian Krolicki's re-election campaign and $5,000 to Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt's re-election campaign.

The remaining donations went to Assembly and District Court candidates.

Pete Ernaut, who worked on Ensign's 2000 campaign and is currently chairing Gov. Kenny Guinn's re-election campaign, said Ensign is also raising his own political capital as a freshman senator with the PAC.

"I think it's no secret that John Ensign is a tremendous fund-raiser," Ernaut said. "To move up, you need to make donations to other candidates and over time that helps you."