MEMO FROM CARSON CITY:

With scant crew, Gibbons reelection campaign sets sail

Sunday, July 19, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons

Gibbons bids adieu to senior staffers (7-16-2009)

Archive of Sun politics stories

Politics: The Early Line

CARSON CITY — Undeterred by poor poll numbers and an empty campaign vault, Gov. Jim Gibbons insists to anyone who’ll listen that he’s running for reelection.

And the campaign is starting to take shape.

The governor’s inner circle is shrinking, and the advisers who remain have few political bona fides. Combine that with a complete turnover of the top staff in the governor’s office — his deputy chief of staff and legislative director gave notice last week — and Gibbons will head into the campaign season in an untested political boat.

The prevailing wisdom has been that he has no chance of winning the general election and that his only hope of surviving the primary — set for next June — is to have several Southern Nevada Republicans beat each other up and split the vote.

Yet Gibbons, if nothing else, has proved himself capable of ignoring the prevailing wisdom.

Take, for example, his remaining inner circle. Northern Nevada RV dealer Howard Weiss has emerged as Gibbons’ closest adviser and is helping to interview for key campaign jobs.

Brad Keating, a former Gibbons staffer now working in government affairs at the Nevada Cancer Institute, recently declined an offer to be Gibbons’ campaign manager.

“I respectfully declined the position,” said Keating, 23, who explained he’s happy with his current job.

Keating said he had conversations about the campaign and other issues with Gibbons and Weiss.

Robert Olmer, an marketing executive working on his first campaign, is Gibbons’ lone campaign staffer, serving as his director of finance.

Meanwhile, many of Gibbons’ challengers have campaign teams and tens of thousands, if not millions, in their coffers.

His situation reflects a stark change of fortune from 2006, when Gibbons, a sitting congressman, was the anointed candidate of many of the state’s political powers and had millions in the bank. MGM Mirage was a major donor, and Republican kingmaker Sig Rogich a top adviser.

In an interview last month, Gibbons said he’s confident in his untested political team.

“It’s not a campaign based on good old boys. It never has been,” he said. “I’m very confident in the people I select. I know what their skills are. And often times, giving people new responsibilities to demonstrate skills and abilities, it’s best thing you can do. If they need help, I’ll give them help. I like to give people a chance.”

Of course, it’s more than a preference for Gibbons. With the latest polls putting his approval rating at 10 percent and the political establishment looking elsewhere (MGM Mirage announced it would be contributing to the gubernatorial campaign of Democratic Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid), Gibbons has few options.

And so the state’s incumbent chief executive will run as an outsider.

“Part of that is the governor is a maverick, he’s looking to do things differently,” Olmer said. “Look at the number of vetoes he had (during the 2009 Legislature). He held a hard line on things he believed in.”

Gibbons doesn’t have a political fundraiser scheduled, though Olmer said he has been making calls. The campaign is ramping up, after expiration of the 30-day window following the legislative session during which the governor and state lawmakers are prohibited from raising money, Olmer said.

He predicted the governor’s opposition to the Legislature’s tax increase will be key to winning over donors and voters. “We truly believe that people will look at what he did during the legislative session over the next couple months and think he was exactly right,” he said.

Maybe it will be enough to get him over the first hurdle, the Republican primary. Democrats, at least for now, are hoping so.

Discussion: 11 comments so far…

By cnev

7/19/09 at 4:53 a.m.

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Reality is subjective, I suppose.
Gibbons reality is this-
at a 10% approval rate, a trace of support, inexperienced single digit campaign staff, no support from a major party and no money he plans to run for reelection.
Actually, this is pretty sad, isn't it?
By nednougat

7/19/09 at 5:55 a.m.

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An incompetent dope with a campaign run by rookies with no experience. Really, is this what Nevada has come down to? Larry the Cable Guy has a better chance of winning than the Groper. Chrissy Mazzeo would get more votes than Gibbons. He only has the support of our military brainwashed fools. He has no chance. Thank God. Bye, bye, Mr. Stupid....
By cpo

7/19/09 at 8:08 a.m.

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Nevada Republicans got punished, when Gibbons became governor, and Titus took Porters seat. If Titus would have won, Porter would still be in Congress. However do not count him out this time either. I have not seen a viable candidate to unseat him, despite a lot of left leaning rhetoric. Oscars a great Mayor, but governor, come on. What Republican is going to unseat him? The mayor of North Las Vegas, a total unknown across the state ?? It was obvious to anyone who paid attention this guy should of never been elected, yet he won. Allegations of sexual misconduct (to put it lightly), financial scandal, the worst or close to it rating in congress, a admitted jack Mormon in a Mormon leaning state, yet still elected. With Obama sinking fast in Nevada I predict he will be a tough seat to unseat. Despite what you think of him, he kept his only campaign promise, not to raise taxes.
By perry161492

7/19/09 at 8:25 a.m.

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every1 is leaving gibbon inner circle they know he not going to win
By texexnv

7/19/09 at 9:36 a.m.

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There is at least one alternative to Gibbons in 2010: http://texexforgovernor.blogspot.com/200...

Go take a look!
By Nevada_Scandalmonger

7/19/09 at 3:03 p.m.

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CPO: Apparently what hasn't gone out of style is lying to help Gibbons win an election.

Gibbons in fact included a tax hike in his budget--a hike in the room tax that he later tried to cover up by not signing the bill. So he did break that promise about not raising taxes. And don't forget a point Montandon's making on the circuit: that if the Guv had gotten off his behind and worked with the Legislature, he may have been able to reduce what few taxes were raised.

In that case, his incompetence benefited Nevadans.

Actually, the only promise Gibbons didn't break was to bring about one Nevada. One Nevada against him.
By Nick

7/19/09 at 3:27 p.m.

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Maybe a Hispanic Democrat could rock the vote and clean up Nevada.

Si Se Puede.

Im all in.
By tbvegas

7/19/09 at 4:04 p.m.

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I don't care what his approval rating is. I am already convinced most people are stupid here. I don't care if he has a girlfriend. I am not interested in Mr congeniality. I want an effective leader with principles they stand by. I will vote for him and I will give him money. Lead on Jim. Keep frustrating the peasants that want something for nothing, and hold the line on spending what we don't have. Lead on, I got your back.
By cpo

7/19/09 at 5:43 p.m.

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Nevada Scandalmonger
Quickly you bring out the tongue, of labeling (calling any perceived supporters liars) and bipartisan politics, twisting so called fact's and details to make the case against Gibbons. Its people like you that rally the opposition and got him elected in the first place. Hopefully you and your kind will go away, till the election is over. Some how I doubt it. This is just another example how scoundrels like Gibbons get elected.
By PaulRupp

7/19/09 at 11:14 p.m.

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When Gov Gibbons accepted a letter handed to him asking for help with a cover-up by the less than honest, phony, and over paid NV Mine Safety and Training Section(Ed Tomany and Safety manager Jeff Bixler) Gov Gibbons showed his true colors. The Gov. is not honest and can not be trusted to help a Nevadan. Gov Gibbons continues to look the other way when it comes to the safety of all Nevada workers/miners. So next election I will look the other way and will vote for anybody but. . . Jim Gibbons. P Rupp B125 SP NV 89047
By PaulRupp

7/19/09 at 11:36 p.m.

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I can hardly wait to confront Gov. Gibbons in person and ask WHY he said he would help investigate "his" corrupt NV Mine Safety and Training Section cover-up of a written formal complaint and safety violations. Looking forward to a re-election campaign stop anywhere in Esmeralda County or the Tonopah area. The Truth shall set you free. P Rupp B125 SP NV 89047