Primary will define party’s identity

Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005 | 7:02 a.m.

Three-term Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson will formally announce his bid for governor today against Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus in a contest that political observers believe will define the Democratic Party in Nevada.

The 57-year-old Gibson's expected entry into the race prompted Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, to announce last month that he would not run. Perkins said it would be difficult to win the governorship after a bruising three-way primary.

The Democratic race pits the more animated and outspoken Titus, a political science professor at UNLV, against the more reserved and deliberate Gibson, a lawyer who recently headed Transit Systems Management, operators of the Las Vegas Monorail.

Titus, who has challenged Gibson's Democratic credentials and touts herself as the race's only pro-choice candidate, is expected to draw from the liberal base of the party. Gibson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is expected to draw from more moderate to conservative Democrats.

"This is something of a test of the identity of the Democratic Party in Nevada," said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at UNR. "You can't have a clearer choice among Democrats.

"You have a guy in Gibson who won't state his position on Question 2 (the 2000 initiative defining marriage in Nevada between a man and a woman) and Titus as someone who has far more traditional national Democratic values."

Perkins' political adviser, Billy Vassiliadis, called it a "classic match-up" in which Titus starts with an early edge because of greater name recognition and stronger ties to party activists.

Gibson can overcome that initial disadvantage, Vassiliadis said, with money and a strong organization to turn out voters, especially with a primary moved up to early August.

Gibson, who estimates it will cost between $2 million and $3 million for the primary campaign, had about $450,000 in the bank through June -- money raised for his April mayoral primary that can be transferred to his gubernatorial campaign.

Vassiliadis said that while both candidates should be able to cross the $2 million threshold, the race could come down to who can reach $3 million.

"Who can raise that last money will be the winner," he said.

Herzik gives the edge to Gibson, saying he is well connected to the state's power establishment, which translates to contributions from gaming, banking and construction.

Vassiliadis said unions will be a major factor in the outcome if they get involved in the race.

Titus already has given a glimpse of the tone of the race. During a speech last month to the AFL-CIO, Titus wooed Perkins' supporters, declaring that she would be the only Democrat in the race even if Gibson ran.

Ahead of Gibson's announcement today, Titus on Wednesday unveiled an anti-Gibson Web site -- jimnodem.com -- challenging his Democratic credentials. She criticized him for a $1,000 donation in 2004 to Rep. John Porter, R-Nev., whom Gibson called a longtime friend, and also faulted Gibson for endorsing Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn and supporting other Republicans.

"They must feel threatened to be putting up stuff like that," said Gibson spokesman Greg Bortolin, who recently left the post of Guinn spokesman.

"I think the real issue is people want to know the track record of these two candidates. As the campaign unfolds, you will see a candidate full of bluster versus a candidate with a real record of accomplishment."

Brian Wargo can be reached at 259-4011 or at wargo@lasvegassun.com.