Gephardt brings Democratic clout to Herrera’s campaign

Erin Neff

Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

Richard Gephardt helped infuse Dario Herrera's congressional campaign with some cash and spirit Thursday during a Democratic rally outside an early voting site.

Gephardt, the House minority leader, is traveling the country trying to build support for Democratic candidates in a dozen or so races nationwide that could put his party into the majority and make him speaker of the House.

But in a speech to partisan senior citizens seated under a tent in a Vons parking lot in Henderson, Gephardt decried special interests and Republican attempts to privatize Social Security.

"You give us the gavel back and we'll give you America back," he urged.

The Missouri Democrat had strong words of endorsement for the candidate whose name he pronounced, "Dairy-oh," and accused Herrera's opponent, Jon Porter, and Republicans of running away from the Social Security issue.

"They're running from it now," Gephardt said. "They're trying to put on camouflage."

During the 2000 campaign Porter said he supported privatizing Social Security. In a recent interview with the Sun, Porter said his statements were misinterpreted and that he only supports seeking "options" for Social Security if the program is secure for current generations who will use it.

"As soon as my mother's Social Security is protected and my Social Security is protected and my children and Dario's generation are protected, we should look at options," Porter said.

Herrera called Porter's position an "election year 180-degree turnaround," and asked "Why is Jon Porter hiding from his real position on Social Security."

Gephardt said a recent memo sent by the Republican Party advising campaigns on how to discuss Social Security privatization versus private accounts is "a pathetic attempt at camouflage."

"The Republicans are illusionists," he said. "You've got a lot of illusionists in Las Vegas. They make elephants disappear," he said to laughs before adding, "They make donkeys disappear, too."

The dozen seniors listening were invited to the event by Herrera's campaign and a local chapter of the United Auto Workers Retirees.

Gephardt was joined by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, a Democratic congresswoman from New York.

In an interview Lowey said the DCCC is committed to Herrera's campaign and believes it is one of 30 races nationwide that are "in play."

Gephardt, who will visit his 15th of those congressional districts next week, said Nevada's 3rd Congressional District is "a jumpball district."

"He will win," Gephardt said of Herrera. "But it will take everyone's work."

After the rally, Gephardt headlined a fund-raiser at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, reportedly netting $150,000 for Herrera and the Nevada State Democratic Party's get-out-the-vote efforts.

Gephardt said his travels indicate that Americans are beginning to side with Democrats on Social Security, prescription drugs and corporate responsibility. Republicans currently have a six-seat edge in the House of Representatives -- a margin both Lowey and Gephardt said they think they can erase.

"I used to say I didn't want to win the House by just one vote," Gephardt said. "I've gotten over that."