Political notebook: Yucca fight gets help in prime time

Erin Neff

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 9:36 a.m.

Nevada can be thankful it's NBC and not CBS calling attention to the dangers of transporting nuclear waste.

After all, "Survivor-Yucca Mountain" does roll off the tongue a little easier than "Survivor-Marquesas."

NBC's "The West Wing," which reaches 17.7 million viewers, is touted as a leading "realistic" drama. So next Wednesday's episode could resonate on Capitol Hill, and to a much wider audience than any proposed television ad campaign by the state to warn of transportation dangers.

The episode features the president's staff dealing with the crash of a big rig carrying uranium fuel rods.

Sounds as though the producers are channeling U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

Sure, it's only one of the show's two main plots, and it will be intertwined with worries about online tax filing, presidential proclamations honoring a retiring teacher and a legislative fight over Internet access for the poor. Oh, and there's also that other big plot involving jettisoning the vice president from the ticket.

But the Emmy award-winning hourlong drama reaches an average of 17.7 million viewers and consistently draws a 6.4 rating among the top advertising demographic -- 18- to 49-year-olds.

What's more, Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe & Co. consistently help the show win its time slot. It ranks seventh for total viewers for the season. It is also the No. 3 drama in all of television.

It's nice the topic isn't featured on some of the shows that draw more viewers, as Nevada certainly has no "Friends" in the Energy Department, and really, Nobody Loves Spencer.

Democrats hopeful

Democrats looked so happy Wednesday that some observers were waiting for state party chairman Terry Care to jump into the reflecting pool at the George Federal Building as if he'd just won the Nabisco Championship on the LPGA Tour.

Not only did the setting serve as the launching pad for Las Vegas attorney John Hunt's bid for attorney general, but it also brought dozens of donkeys out of hiding to clap for the first announced Democratic candidate for one of the six constitutional offices.

And it also got the "juices flowing" for the world's happiest mayor.

Oscar Goodman eyed the gushing crowd and said the support for Hunt gave him "a warm feeling" in his belly.

At 10:30 a.m. it probably wasn't the Beefeater warming him up. But hanging out with Sen. Harry Reid and former Rebel coach Jerry Tarkanian did give Goodman visions of the governor's mansion.

Then again, he said, "I love being the mayor."

Great Debate

Newsflash!

Not only will there be a Jon Porter sighting next week, the man running for Congress will actually discuss his campaign platform in a mini-debate with his opponent.

Porter, the Republican state senator, and Dario Herrera, the Democratic chairman of the Clark County Commission, will square off in the Associated General Contractors' "Great Debate" on Tuesday.

Each candidate for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District will be asked to speak about the so-called death tax, highway funding, health care costs, soaring insurance rates and Yucca Mountain.

The debate will take place as part of a luncheon during AGC's member expo at the MGM Grand Conference Center. Tickets are $38 for non-members and $25 for AGC members. Call 796-9986 for information.

Cegavske endorsed

Although she got into the race after the county GOP endorsement process, Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske has picked up an even more important endorsement in her race for state Senate District 8.

The Nevada Republican Senate Caucus has unanimously endorsed Cegavske for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas. The caucus blessing carries with it an open line to Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio's fund-raising prowess.

Cegavske will face attorney Tom Christensen in the GOP primary.

For the record