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Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 | 5:14 p.m.
A screenshot from a video posted on Danny Tarkanian's campaign Web site.
Sun Coverage
WASHINGTON -- Danny Tarkanian, the Republican who hopes to emerge from a 2010 primary to challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said today he would welcome Sen. John Ensign’s support, believes the national Republicans aren’t playing primary favorites and thinks Reid is too optimistic in his hopes for the state’s economic recovery by 2010.
Making the rounds in Washington this week, Tarkanian was heartened after meeting with the National Republican Senatorial Committee that, whispers not withstanding, state Republican Party boss Sue Lowden is not the national party’s overt preference.
“There’s no preference in any way for Sue,” Tarkanian said after his meeting with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the party’s campaign chairman.
Cornyn, he said, told him, “We will help you any way we can, just as we will with the other primary candidates.”
The former UNLV basketball player and son of the college coach and Las Vegas City Councilwoman, also met with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and signed the no-taxes pledge from Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist’s group.
Tarkanian calls himself “clearly a fiscal conservative and a social conservative.”
Tarkanian has become a mini-media star since he outpolled Lowden in a potential primary match up – besting her by double-digits. The same Review-Journal poll had both Lowden and Tarkanian defeating Reid – Tarkanian by 11 percentage points. (A new poll out today showed similar results, with both Lowden and Tarkanian besting Reid.) Reid’s campaign has downplayed the polls, saying their internal numbers show Reid at least polling even.
Republicans had sought to avoid a bruising primary, but without a clear frontrunner, the bruising has begun.
Tarkanian gave a hint of the next months on the Republican primary trail as he burnished his credentials a as tested statewide candidate (he was defeated in 2006 for Secretary of State race) who remained active in the party.
“Sue hasn’t done that. Amodei hasn’t done that. None of the other 9,” he said.
He also said he would welcome Ensign’s support. Other Republicans in Nevada have distanced themselves from Ensign, the party’s once rising leader who earlier this year disclosed an affair with a former campaign staffer. The two are scheduled to meet on Wednesday.
“I’m not going to shy away from him,” Tarkanian said. “Senator Ensign is our senior Republican senator here. I don’t see how he’s not going to be part of a Republican trying to unseat the Democrat in the state he represents. I would welcome his support.”
After Reid told reporters today he expects the Nevada economy to begin showing signs of turn around in 2010, Tarkanian, a real estate developer, offered a gloomier assessment.
“You could roll the dice on that one,” Tarkanian said. “We’ve got a long ways to go before it’s turned around. The people I talk with in the business world are very, very pessimistic about the near term.”
Not quite a catchy campaign slogan, but if you’re going to challenge Reid, might as well go for broke.
Give Tarkanian a shot. The professional politicians have had their turn.
Anyone but Reid.
I agree. Anyone BUTT REID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha! Yes, please, I'd LOVE to see Lil' Tark Shark campaign with Johnny Casino. This would really turn out votes... For Harry Reid! ;-)
Reid is out, Tarkanian is in. I like Sue Lowden as well. I hope they quickly unite for the good of Nevada. Either one of the candidates would garner my respect something Harry Reid never will. I'm also voting against his son Rory Reid for Governor. I just never want to see another Reid in a position to ignore their constituents. Like father like son, I would expect little difference.
He never won anything, and has no experience. Look at Schwarzenegger. Business experience does not mean anything in the political world.
All the rednecks and hate-talk radio dittoheads complained the Obama didn't have any experience.
At least he held state office and Senate seat first. This guy is a baby.
"Little Tark" is out of his league. He's just a "baby" trying to get elected to a position that he knows little about and is not qualified for.......
Hopefully John Ensign will endorse the ex "Gorman flash." That would be the death sentence for "Danny boy."
Looks like another "Lessor of two evil syndrom". Had enough of this! Think I'll go Independant.
steve7952 wrote: "Think I'll go Independant."
You might want to learn how to spell it first, steve-o.
I'm sure the state's Democratic party would also love for Ensign to valiantly and publicly support Danny Tarkanian.
I guess Tarkanian's standards are so low, he'll accept support from anyone.
Seeking "support" from Ensign is as easy as "meeting the parents."
; )
"Tarkanian calls himself clearly a fiscal conservative and a social conservative."
Really? Then why does Danny Tarkanian give campaign contributions to get Shelley Berkley elected, a democrat who is clearly a fiscal liberal and a social liberal? Clearly, the man is confused!
Nevadans made this mistake before by voting out Howard Cannon. They went from having a powerful voice and advocate to someone with very little clout. Besides, this is just a case of a famous name, like Bush...hope he's not an empty suit.
that is just too damn funny...
tark's little kiddie...
wants the endorsement of johnnie boy i slept with my best friend's wife, then fired them both when i got caught, then run to mommy and daddy to fix my boo boo ensign...
are you kidding me...
that my friends is the new definition of pathetic!!!
Harry Reid can only hope that Tiny Tark is the opponent he will face in the general. Tiny was a good point guard at UNLV, but his success since then has been minimal at best. He has run and lost, TWICE. Tiny is a decent guy, but doesn't measure up when it comes to the national political scene. His attempt at being an opportunist will fall short. Tiny will get squashed.
Danny Tarkanian wanting to run for US Senator has me puzzled. We have a very young inexperienced guy whose experience in politics is zero, and whose reputation as a lawyer in court is relatively unknown and not established as of yet. Other than his family name what qualifies him for this office? His ability to dribble, pass, shoot and dunk basketballs is not a qualification for United States senators, or is it? Maybe he was a great team leader for the UNLV team but that also is totally irrelevant and not applicable to the political arena. It seems to me that he will be running on the name of his dad "the Big Shark." This is the same thing that hoisted Lois Tarkanian into election as a CCSD School Trustee and LV City Commissioner.
As is well known the reputation of Jerry Tarkanian is mired in controversy, suspicion and questions about his reputation and dealings as a basketball coach. His questionable practices as a coach of bringing students to the college level as alleged 'scholar athletes' when many were barely able to read primary grade Dick and Jane books, and later became convicted of serious felonies, is known in the media.
We know nothing of Danny Tarkanian's skills as a potential political official. He has never held political office, and running for office once previous time does not a politician make. He has no experience or record that can be examined and critiqued so he is virtually an unknown quantity. His athletic prowess as a basketball player has no relevance in this case. This is not unlike Barrack Obama and the furor raised by many who questioned his qualifications for President of the United States; I see no difference. We indeed have a dark horse running for US Senate without a track record.
I question the vigor and enthusiasm with which his potential candidacy is being advanced by Republicans. I hope he does not end up going to Washington as many have in the past with their right hand extended for a hand shake and the left hand extended, palm up waiting for some unknown sweetheart and financially rewarding backroom deals. This has been the route that many a former Nevada politician has used to leave the state with average income and return as career politician multi-millionaires. One former, nationally known US Senator comes to mind as he left in near poverty and later retired as a very, very wealthy northern Nevada Casino owner.
I wish Danny T well and pray that should he beat Harry Reid for Nevada's Senate seat that he will maintain a repuation of integrity and honesty in political office.
Danny is a Bush republican that pals around with sexual predators like John Ensign.
Danny sucks