Friday, October 04, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Talk about a high-percentage shot.

If the 1st Congressional District race were a basketball game, incumbent Shelley Berkley's team would be credited with a slam-dunk courtesy of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

At a time when Berkley is already well ahead of GOP challenger/City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald in recent polls, a spot featuring Goodman began airing Thursday morning. A September survey measured Goodman's popularity at a dizzying 90 percent.

"It takes lots of energy to keep Las Vegas working," Goodman enthuses. "And no one works harder for Las Vegas ... than Congresswoman Shelley Berkley."

The commercial goes on to laud Berkley's efforts in the fight against Yucca Mountain and on behalf of economic development, highway improvement and the post-Sept. 11 business climate.

Berkley enters the picture at the end of the spot to say, "Thanks, Oscar."

Produced by Shorr, Johnson and Klose of Philadelphia, the spot was shot more than two weeks ago, prior to recent media reports writing off Boggs McDonald's chances to upset Berkley.

"We're pleased to have his continued support," says Peggy Egan, Berkley's campaign manager.

One GOP operative who saw the spot groans, "It was phenomenal. Simple, effective and devastating. Say what you want about Goodman, but he's very popular."

In short, nothing but net.

UP IN SMOKE: Extra! Extra! Someone has kidnapped U.S. Sen. John Ensign and replaced him with Pete Domenici. At least, the White House drug policy Web site seems to think so.

Whitehousedrugpolicy.gov lists Domenici as a Nevada senator along with Harry Reid. Ensign is nowhere in sight, the poor guy. And after he worked so hard to get the job, too.

At last check, Domenici was still a senator-in-residence in New Mexico.

Kind of makes you wonder what certain government Web masters are smoking these days, doesn't it?

MARSHALL CONVICTED: The FBI got its man late Wednesday when a jury returned a guilty verdict in the federal drug trial of Robert Marshall, but whether it got satisfaction is another matter.

The feds believe the 69-year-old Marshall was a key figure in the 1972 bombing of former FBI Agent William Coulthard. Sources say they were hoping to enlist enough cooperation to solve the brutal murder.

If Marshall knows specific details, which he claims he doesn't, the time for him to speak has officially passed. Sentencing is set for December and, barring a long-shot appeal, Marshall is expected to return to prison for life.

UNLUCKY HORSESHOE: All those surprised by the latest bad news pouring like smoke from Binion's Horseshoe raise your hand?

That's not many.

Reports of the Horseshoe's financial and employee problems are too numerous to mention, and the latest embarrassment, an insufficient bankroll, has finally led Gaming Control Board investigators to unplug a large portion of the downtown landmark's slots.

What really has locals choking is the remark that the Horseshoe's bankroll was temporarily depleted because of all the checks its employees have been cashing.

As bad as business appears for the venerable casino, it could get worse in the coming months. And that can only hurt downtown's overall performance.

One Las Vegas casino expert warns that the failure of the Horseshoe certainly would have an impact on neighboring casinos and, "Getting another operator down there will be almost impossible."

Here's the Vegas irony of the month: In the past, whenever a casino ran into hard luck, an operator could always turn to one man for a short-term loan.

That man was Horseshoe patriarch Lester "Benny" Binion.

LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD: Al Rapuano's friendship with mob figure Joey Cusumano officially made him too hot for casino licensure, but not for key employee status at the Crazy Horse Too topless cabaret, as illustrated by Wednesday's City Council approval. ... County Commission candidate Mark James was overheard at a fund-raiser at Marc's World Cuisine on Lake Mead going into overdrive to ensure victory for his former legislative assistant, Francis Allen, in the upcoming Assembly District 37 race.

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