Jim Gibson Henderson mayor "more than happy" to talk with his rival in primary Dina Titus Democratic candidate for governor may schedule meeting next week

Erstwhile Democratic gubernatorial rivals Dina Titus and Jim Gibson have yet to kiss and make up more than two weeks after the primary election.

Gibson, the mayor of Henderson, said this week he hasn't received so much as a phone call from the Titus camp since losing the primary to her on Aug. 15. The Titus campaign said a meeting was scheduled after the primary but was canceled. Gibson's office said no meeting was ever on his calendar.

"No one's talked to me about it," Gibson said. "I've said that I'm more than happy to sit down with her."

When he conceded the race, Gibson said he would have to meet with Titus before he could agree to support her candidacy.

Both sides say they've just been busy -- Gibson with wrapping up the loose ends of his failed campaign, Titus with getting a new campaign into gear after winning the primary by 17 points.

The Titus campaign was headed off for a tour of rural Nevada on Thursday.

"We're still looking forward to a meeting" with Gibson, Titus spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said. "We hope to get something scheduled next week."

Analysts say Titus would benefit from Gibson's support, but they're divided on how important it is and whether it's significant that there's been no detente between the two at this early stage.

Republican political consultant Steve Wark said it's a sign that, while Republican internecine conflicts have made headlines in recent days, there are rifts among Democrats as well.

Wark said Titus ought to be acting more aggressively to get Gibson on her side.

"If I was Dina Titus, I would be doing everything possible under the sun to make sure I don't bleed Democrats," Wark said. "Two weeks is a very long time within the context of a very short general election cycle. Every day that goes by that they haven't been able to pull that off is strategically significant."

Wark noted that the Democratic gubernatorial primary was intensely negative.

"There were personal things said and very strong allegiances on both sides," he said. "From a practical aspect ... she needs to go back to his fan base."

It wouldn't cost Titus anything to court Gibson, and he could potentially bring her both a significant constituency and considerable fundraising power, Wark said.

"His (Gibson's) numbers are significant in Henderson and Green Valley amongst people of all parties," Wark said. "His family has been here for four generations. There are a lot of people out there, especially Democrats, who will follow Jim Gibson's lead on a race."

Democratic political guru Billy Vassiliadis wasn't so sure. He agreed that Gibson had considerable appeal as a candidate among voters who might not naturally gravitate to Titus -- conservative Democrats, nonpartisan voters and perhaps even some Republicans.

"I think he does have a constituency," Vassiliadis said. "He obviously has tapped into the conservative side of the Democratic party, and clearly, in a general election, that (constituency) grows a bit."

But Vassiliadis wasn't convinced that Gibson's say-so would be enough to bring those voters into the Titus fold.

"I've always been very skeptical that in Nevada personal endorsements matter a lot, unless they're really earth-shaking," he said. "Gibson endorsing Titus is a good thing. Obviously, she would love to have it. But in Nevada, people will form their own opinion."

Vassiliadis also said he wouldn't read anything into the fact that the two haven't come together yet.

"It was a rough and tumble primary," he said. "The mayor needs time to heal. His family needs time to come to terms with it. He and Dina need time to find some common ground."

One thing Gibson showed in the primary was a prodigious ability to raise money -- more than $3 million over the course of the campaign, with large bundled donations from developers and other members of the business community.

"One place Jim Gibson would absolutely be able to help Dina would be to introduce her and help her broach some relationships for fundraising," Vassiliadis said.

He doesn't doubt the two will reconcile soon.

"I think he (Gibson) is a gentleman, a class act. I've never known him to be petty or vindictive."