Bush plans trip to visit Nevada

Suzanne Struglinski

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003 | 11:09 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush will be in Nevada next month, possibly on official as well as campaign business.

An administration official confirmed this morning that Bush would visit Nevada in November, but specific dates, locations and events were still being worked out.

The official said the president is expected to participate in some official events, which may include a fund-raiser for the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign.

Bush has not visited the state since his 2000 election campaign stop at Lake Tahoe, leaving Nevada as one of a handful of state without a presidential visit.

Some attributed this to his approval and support of the Energy Department's proposed Yucca Mountain project, the federal nuclear waste dump about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

When Vice President Dick Cheney attended a Las Vegas fund-raiser in July protesters lined the streets rallying against the project, but Cheney still took home an estimated $300,0000 for the campaign.

Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval, who chairs the state's Republican leadership team hoping to re-elect Bush could not be reach for comment.

Sandoval was in Washington, D.C., today at the invitation of the White House, according to his Tom Sargent, his press secretary. Bush invited Hispanic constitutional officers to meet with him today, a visit unrelated to Sandoval's campaign involvement.

A spokesman for Gov. Kenny Guinn said the governor welcomes Bush to Nevada and is "excited to have him here."

Press Secretary Greg Bortolin said, "Obviously the governor disagrees with the president on Yucca Mountain but that is only one issue." Guinn supports Bush and is looking forward to hosting him, Bortolin said.