Jon Ralston watches as Nevada Republicans make life hard on themselves as elections approach

Wednesday, March 1, 2006 | 7:16 a.m.

They have the demographics in their favor, the front-runner for governor and leaders in almost every statewide race.

And yet Nevada Republicans, apparently not content with their embarrassment of riches, are determined to try to give some of their good fortune away.

A year ago Rep. Jim Gibbons was a lock to succeed Gov. Kenny Guinn, Rep. Jon Porter had no opponent in sight and the GOP was poised to retain all six constitutional offices. But instead of running away with all these races, Republicans have used their feet quite inefficiently, either stuffing them in their mouths or shooting them with their words.

Now, just under five months before the primary election, the Republicans continue to have the lead over Democrats in most contests, but the outcomes are no longer so certain.

This is all quite delicious to watch from afar, although my guess is the Republicans don't think the developments are so appetizing. The latest chapter has a state chairman treating a constitutional officer seeking another statewide post like Dick Cheney treated Harry Whittington - and this shooting incident was no accident and took place in public.

The not-so-greatest hits just keep coming for the GOP. To wit:

The congressman has been a media and Democratic punching bag since that pilfered speech he gave in Elko last year (I still think the issue there was judgment, not plagiarism, because the speech he stole was so awful). And Jim Rogers, the ADD-challenged chancellor, then took time out from running a university system and trying to run a lower education system to question the front-runner's IQ and fitness.

That left Gibbons vulnerable - or at least rubbed the sheen off his invincibility. And now Beers, emboldened by his Tax and Spending Control initiative, has been nipping at his heels, hectoring the congressman to debate him. TASC may have legal and political trouble on the inside, but outside, especially among GOP primary voters, it's enormously popular and Gibbons' just-announced opposition to TASC thrilled Beers.

Now if he could get some money ...

I can probably think of dumber things for Porter to have done than attack Reid when he had a free ride. But none occurs to me right now.

Attorney General George Chanos remains a favorite over Catherine Cortez Masto. But his controversial prescription drug decision has given the Democrats a potent issue, and the incumbent's stubborn steadfastness and thin-skinned defense have given them hope.

The secretary of state's race features a Democratic anointee, gubernatorial son Ross Miller, who will raise more money as two Republicans, Danny Tarkanian and Brian Scroggins, tear each other up. There were three Republicans, but then ex-Assemblywoman Merle Berman, who was singularly unqualified to be secretary of state, decided she might as well run for another office she is singularly unqualified to hold, controller, creating a primary for a qualified contender, Steve Martin.

The Republicans were content that Treasurer Brian Krolicki was coasting, with campaign ads masquerading as public service announcements on the air and a war chest that could soon stretch to seven figures. But then up pops news that Bob Unger, a deep pocketed developer, is seriously thinking of running. Better pump up that Millennium Scholarship ad buy.

Despite all of the recent troubles, at least the GOP has Sen. John Ensign, a favorite target of liberal bloggers but with only presidential son Jack Carter, a prohibitive underdog, to contend with.

But if the self-destructive impulse that Gibbons showed last year in Elko continues to act like some contagion infecting the GOP body politic, the next story will be about how Ensign, after dunking in a congressional basketball game, turned to a colleague and boasted, "That's what I'll do to Oscar if he gets in the race."

Don't tell Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, but I hear that really happened.

Jon Ralston hosts the news discussion program "Face to Face With Jon Ralston" on Las Vegas ONE and also publishes the daily e-mail newsletter "RalstonFlash.com." His column for the Las Vegas Sun appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Ralston can be reached at 870-7997 or at ralston@vegas.com.