Sen. John Ensign starts campaigning months before election

By Delen Goldberg

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011 | 11:56 a.m.

Sen. John Ensign is in full campaign mode in an effort to win back people's trust and support after an affair with his best friend's wife.

Ensign said today during a visit to a North Las Vegas factory that he has spent the past month putting together a fundraising team and scheduling several fundraisers in Nevada and Washington, D.C.

"The response has been favorable," Ensign said. "I've been encouraged."

Ensign has significant work cut out for him. Recent polls show the two-term Republican's approval rating well below 50 percent. Party leaders have expressed concern about his viability as a candidate, and challengers already are nipping at his heels.

But at Spacecraft Components, which manufactures and distributes electrical connectors for airplanes, rail cars and military vehicles, workers welcomed him with open arms. Ensign visited the business as part of a two-day tour of Nevada companies. He was a keynote speaker Wednesday at a conference for human resources executives in Reno, as was Rep. Dean Heller, one of his expected challengers.

"What do we have to do to get you elected?" a worker asked during a question-and-answer session on the warehouse floor.

"I've got to work my rear end off," Ensign said. "I made a big mistake a few years ago....But I've really tried to become a better father, husband, friend and senator."

"How you gonna put Dean Heller in his place?" another asked.

Ensign said he will focus on his own race and use the next year to try to earn back people's trust.

"Pride and arrogance are bad things," he said. "If you don't humble yourself and humility is pushed on you, it's painful."

"You just have to do the best job you can and take your message to the voters."