Who will the happiest mayor help?

Dan Kulin

Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006 | 7:26 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman apparently loves being the center of political speculation - not only about his own possible candidacy, but also whether he might play a major role in other candidates' campaigns.

In late 2005 and early this year, Goodman was at the center of one of Nevada's favorite political guessing games as fellow Democrats and Republicans alike speculated on whether the popular mayor might become a statewide candidate for governor or the U.S. Senate.

In the end, the man who calls himself the happiest mayor in the world decided to stay at Las Vegas City Hall.

That, however, has not ended the question: What's Oscar going to do?

Now, though, the question focuses on whether Goodman will throw his considerable political weight behind his fellow Democrats in the statewide races. And if so, how much would it really matter?

Just as he was during the months of will-he-or-won't-he guessing over his own political plans, Goodman, who stayed on the sidelines in this month's primary, has been coy about his possible role in any of this fall's campaigns.

Goodman said he has spoken with fellow Democrat Dina Titus, the state Senate minority leader who is the party's nominee for governor. So far, however, that is all he has done.

"I'm keeping all my options open," Goodman said.

In a written statement, Goodman said: "Dina and I spoke shortly after the election. I told her I am very supportive of her, and we can meet to discuss the details of my involvement. Because of our schedules, no meeting has taken place thus far."

Titus said the mayor offered to "do whatever he could do to help," but so far they have not discussed what specific role Goodman might play in her campaign.

Titus said she hopes to capitalize on the mayor's popularity and access to campaign funds outside Nevada.

"In order to win this race, it's not just the hard-core Democrats that I'll need, and the mayor has proven to be very popular with independent voters and across party lines," Titus said.

Among political consultants and analysts, the consensus is that Goodman is at or near the top of a short list of Nevada politicians whose endorsement and support is coveted.

Goodman's popularity showed up in polls late last year and early this year, in which he was running in a virtual dead heat with eventual Republican nominee Jim Gibbons.

He demonstrated his fundraising prowess in his 2003 re-election campaign when, despite facing no serious threat, he raised more than $1.1 million - in a race he ultimately won with 85.7 percent of the vote.

But while Goodman is widely seen as capable of giving any contender a boost in November, to what degree is a matter of debate.

The issue is not so much one of time - even though there's just over two months until the Nov. 7 election - as of how much effect any outsider has on a high-profile race.

Dan Hart, campaign manager for Titus' primary opponent, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, called Goodman "one of the best, if not the best, surrogate for a campaign."

"He's well-spoken, articulate, charismatic and has broad appeal, and cross-party appeal," Hart said of Goodman. "The more you use him the better."

Democratic political consultant Gary Gray said while the mayor has "enormous popularity," his impact in terms of boosting a candidate's popularity would probably be limited in major statewide races, where the candidates themselves largely shape the outcome.

Veteran political consultant Billy Vassiliadis agreed, saying: "People know who Sen. Titus and Jim Gibbons are."

Goodman's potential ability to lure campaign donations to candidates in high-profile races such as governor also could be limited, Vassiliadis said.

"In Nevada, the A and B lists of donors already have their own relationships with the politicians," Vassiliadis said. "But increasingly, independents, nonpartisan voters, are influencing elections, and Oscar has strong support there."

Overall, though, having Goodman in your camp would be a plus for any candidate, Vassiliadis said. That is why he is telling secretary of state candidate Ross Miller and attorney general candidate Catherine Cortez Masto to reach out to Goodman.

Similarly, Sig Rogich, a Gibbons consultant and top Republican strategist, said that while it is difficult to assess how much Goodman could affect a race, he expects Democratic candidates to seek the mayor's endorsement.

"I'd love to have him on my side," Rogich said.