Nevada Dems aim to build on 2008 momentum, give Horsford help

By Michael Mishak

Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 | 2 a.m.

As a rough political season approaches, Nevada Democrats long for the days of 2008.

Back then a tanking economy, anti-incumbent sentiment and the muscular campaign of Sen. Barack Obama combined to create the perfect storm, lifting two political neophytes to victory and giving Democrats control of the state Senate for the first time in 18 years.

But after a tough legislative session where Democrats often found themselves outmaneuvered by senior Republicans, the party is looking for more than warm bodies to put on the ballot next year. Recruiting has begun in earnest, and party operatives are pulling largely from a crop of experienced Assembly lawmakers.

The goal is to protect — and enlarge — the Democratic majority. Moreover, operatives want to cultivate a team of strong lieutenants to help Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford push the party’s agenda.

Some background:

Banking on a national wave, Horsford and his election team played it safe in 2008. Operatives limited media access to candidates Allison Copening and Shirley Breeden, who, in turn, ducked some debates. Interest groups and the Nevada Democratic Party filled the void, launching a series of attack mail pieces against Republican Sens. Joe Heck and Bob Beers.

Prominent Republicans decried the strategy, dismissing their Democratic rivals as paper candidates, placeholders on the popular party ticket.

Copening and Breeden eked out victories. But it was clear last session that Horsford became overextended. Not only was he the first Democrat to lead the Senate since 1991, but he also co-chaired the powerful Finance Committee, was the key senator on energy and job training legislation, decided to wade into the transportation funding debate, and was the key negotiator for Senate Democrats on the budget bill.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio each had top lieutenants who were delegated many of those jobs.

Term limits have forced the caucus to deal with succession issues, as Sens. Bernice Matthews, Bob Coffin and Maggie Carlton step down. Assembly representatives Sheila Leslie, Ruben Kihuen and Mo Denis will vie for those seats. Assemblyman Mark Manendo and Assemblywoman Kathy McClain will face each other in the primary for Sen. Terry Care’s seat.

“Everyone is keenly sensitive about the term limit issue and paying a lot more attention to the recruitment issue,” said Billy Vassiliadis, the Democratic power broker. “You can’t afford to have someone who needs six, eight, 10 years to learn on the job. People elected last session are going to be chairs next session.”

Senate Democrats are promoting candidates such as Tammy Peterson. An attorney and former prosecutor in the Las Vegas Special Victims Unit, Peterson is challenging Republican Sen. Barbara Cegavske.

“In 2010 we believe that in order to do what we need to do for Nevada, we need to return to Carson City with a larger majority,” said Alisa Nave, the Senate Democratic caucus’ political director. “We are working hard to ensure the people we are endorsing are the kinds of leaders Nevada deserves.”

Nave added: “When you are a caucus of 12, losing four members, it’s in the best interests of your team — and in the best interests of Nevada — to be introspective and diligent.”

Former Gov. Bob List, a Republican national committeeman, said Republicans are also sizing up next year’s races and recruiting candidates. The big prize, he said, is reapportionment. The Legislature will redraw district lines after the 2010 Census.

List said Republicans are hoping for their own perfect storm next year.

“People are very interested in politics this year and a lot of that is being driven by the controversial activity in Washington from the White House and the Obama administration and what’s taking place on health care,” he said. “People are worried about the economy and they want to know what candidates will do to fix things.”

David McGrath Schwartz contributed to this report.