Running for office would be mighty sporting of Reid’s picks

and Michael Mishak

Saturday, April 14, 2007 | 7:28 a.m.

By Lisa Mascaro and Michael Mishak

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has tried to persuade boxer Oscar De La Hoya to move to Nevada and run for Congress, and might do so again.

Reid disclosed his conversations in an interview with the Sun that also touched on chatter about a possible candidacy by tennis legend Andre Agassi and others who might unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Jon Porter in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District next year.

National Democrats consider Porter among the most vulnerable House Republicans in 2008, given his narrow victory over a relatively unknown political newcomer last year.

Asked about the race, Reid said: "I've talked to a few people."

Anyone in particular?

"No, we're working on it."

What about Las Vegan Agassi, the recently retired tennis champion and Democratic supporter whose name has been floated in the past?

"He'd be a great candidate, wouldn't he?"

Then Reid mentioned De La Hoya, the prize fighter who has a championship bout May 5 in Las Vegas. "I tried to get Oscar De La Hoya to move there, but he hasn't done that yet," Reid said. "He's a handsome guy very smart."

Reid said he had not talked with De La Hoya lately about running, but he noted that the two will be in the same room on May 5 - the MGM Grand Garden Arena where the boxer will fight Floyd Mayweather.

Aides to De La Hoya were en route from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles on Friday and could not be reached for comment.

De La Hoya had considered a move to Nevada when he lived in Los Angeles and was fighting regularly in Las Vegas. He now lives with his wife in Puerto Rico, according to a source in his company, Golden Boy Promotions Inc.

"Right now his main focus is on business and boxing," the source said. "Maybe when he retires he'll have more time for politics."

Agassi has been something of a dream choice for Democrats. The party has never been able to put up a strong enough match for Porter, who has held the district since it was created in 2002. Agassi could not be reached for comment Friday.

A national Democratic representative was in Las Vegas on Friday to assess prospects for the 2008 race against Porter. A state party spokeswoman said a representative from the Democratic National Congressional Campaign Committee, which focuses on elections for the House, came "to get the lay of the land to talk to people who have expressed interest in the past, and to talk to people to see who else they need to think about."

Likely contenders being mentioned include Rory Reid, chairman of the Clark County Commission and Harry Reid's eldest son; state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, who ran for governor last fall; and former Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, who is the Henderson police chief.

A source confirmed that the national committee is meeting with all three.

Titus confirmed she is meeting with the national campaign representative today, but declined to say whether she will enter the race.

"I'm flattered they think I'm a strong candidate, but I'm not focused on that right now," Titus said. "I'm focused on having a strong session, and after that's over we can talk about it at that point."

Rory Reid confirmed he was meeting with the representative Friday and had been in talks with national party officials for several weeks. "I'm thinking about it, and that's all I'll say at this point," he said.

Harry Reid, when asked about his son's possible candidacy, said : "You have to ask him."

Perkins could not be reached for comment.

Harry Reid's former press aide, Tessa Hafen, lost to Porter in November and is not expected to run.