U.S. SENATE

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 1:11 a.m.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a one-time amateur boxer, often invokes his humble beginnings in Searchlight, where he was born and still keeps a home.

But after 18 years in the U.S. Senate, now in his third run for re-election, Reid, 64, is the overwhelming bout favorite.

The leading challenger is Republican Richard Ziser, 51, the former chairman of the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage. The group successfully led an effort to secure a state constitutional amendment prohibiting Nevada from recognizing gay marriages.

Ziser wants to push the gay marriage issue at the national level, he said.

Another priority would be approving Republican judicial nominees, he said. Ziser said Reid has been an obstacle in President Bush's effort to win Senate confirmation of judges.

Ziser vows to fight federal taxes, wants to help make Bush's tax cuts permanent and supports a simpler tax structure. He has said he supports negotiating for benefits for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. Reid has long led a congressional battle against Yucca and opposes negotiating.

Ziser lists his occupation as a self-employed investment manager. He said he has worked with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Rifle Association and the conservative group Nevada Concerned Citizens, which has opposed prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Reid is a longtime politician: He was an assemblyman from 1968 to 1970, then lieutenant governor. Reid served two terms in the House beginning in 1982 before being elected to the Senate in 1986.

Reid is considered one of the most influential senators. As assistant minority leader, or whip, Reid is responsible for managing debate time and lining up Democrats on votes.

He is a member of the Appropriations Committee, the panel that controls federal spending. Through that post, Reid routinely secures money for Nevada projects, making him an enemy of pork-barrel critics.

Ziser said Reid funnels money to projects that benefit select special interests. He noted that Nevada typically ranks low among states in the amount of federal money it receives versus the amount citizens pay in federal taxes.

But Reid has proudly touted his Appropriations membership, securing millions of dollars for state projects ranging from the Las Vegas Monorail and McCarran International Airport improvements to UNLV programs and counterterrorism training at the Nevada Test Site.

Other Reid challengers include:

Libertarian Tom Hurst, 46, is a geologist and hydrologist and sometimes university lecturer. The 33-year Nevada resident said he is frustrated with the inefficiency of government. He wants to cut government spending, prevent implementation of a military draft, uphold gun rights, repeal the Patriot Act and decriminalize medical marijuana. He refers voters to the Libertarian Web site: www.voteforachange.us.

Natural Law Party candidate Gary Marinch, 50, a real estate investor, said it is to his advantage to have no political experience. He opposes a Yucca Mountain repository, supports tax cuts for casinos and calls the war in Iraq "World War III." His Web site, www.garynvsenator.com includes a link to the World Organization of Men, and includes this vow: "I will be in charge of finding a women (sic) to be director of The Homeland Housekeeping Security Maintenance Division."

Independent American Party candidate David Schumann, 65, a retired real estate broker, blames Reid and other lawmakers for high gas prices and advocates increased oil drilling in Alaska. He also wants to clamp down on illegal immigration.

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