Not only did Bill Richardson get a seasoned Democratic operative to lead his Nevada team, he got one who knows how to fire a rifle.

It's sometimes hard for transplanted Easterners and Californians to recognize why the Mountain West has been such a consistent red. (And I'm not talking about UNLV).

When you travel outside Las Vegas and talk to voters in Elko, Lincoln and Nye counties, you find plenty who could go for Democrats if the candidate was fairly fiscally conservative and "doesn't try to take our guns."

Kristian Forland is an Elko Democrat who goes to Lincoln Day dinners. Bipartisanship isn't a dirty word in Elko. And plenty of Republicans are planning to attend the Elko Democrats' Kicking Ass Skeet Shoot next month at the Wells Gun Club. The winners get shotguns.

"You can't really get too more gun friendly," Forland said.

If Roberta Lange, Richardson's new state director, decides to drop by, watch out. In addition to being a highly regarded Democratic operative, she's also a former rifle champion.

Richardson, the New Mexico governor with the best resume to be president, knows the West. Democrats rightly believe the path to the White House in 2008 runs through the West, where voters like their guns and open space almost as much as they dislike taxes and government intrusion.

Nevada has done nothing politically to suggest it doesn't fit that mold. Voters have declared the state pro-choice and approved medical marijuana at the same time they have sought to restrain taxes and have elected fiscal conservatives statewide.

But unless Democrats reach out to Republicans and independents in Elko and Esmeralda counties, you can forget about Nevada going blue. And unless Democrats reach out to all voters nationally, the White House isn't going to change parties.

When you reach out to people who don't know you -- whether on Fox News or in Carlin -- you're more likely to open people's minds. The true believers won't budge, but there are plenty who will.

How else do you think Democrat Jill Derby came close to beating Republican Dean Heller last year despite having nearly 48,000 fewer registered Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District? And how else do you explain Fox News' ratings dominance nationally, even in the bluest of places?

Forland thinks the candidate who comes to Elko, shakes some hands and looks voters in the eye will have the advantage in the Democratic caucus -- and possibly beyond.

Still smarting from the buzz Vice President Dick Cheney generated with a visit to Elko in 2004, Forland said a personal visit from a candidate would "have a huge impact."

Richardson phoned his new Nevada campaign office last Thursday with a promise to campaign in rural Nevada.

He already has five paid staffers in the state, including Lange and longtime Washoe County operative Theresa Navarro. Navarro, the northern field director, has laid groundwork for Richardson in Lyon County and is planning a traditional rural tour next week.

She'll have an easier time than some of the others. Richardson is not only good on guns, he has rebated taxes and knows energy and water. He's also a heck of a hands-on handshaker if he decides to campaign in the rurals after the New Mexico Legislature wraps up next month.

Richardson must do well in Nevada to bolster his national chances against the candidates who are all too happy to opt out of public financing. He's not taking it lightly.

His campaign became the first in the state to open an office last week. (It's at 515 S. Seventh St.) At the grand opening of the office, former Harry Reid chief of staff Reynaldo Martinez explained why he's volunteering as Richardson's state chairman.

"What we have are people that reflect the governor's personality and beliefs," Martinez said.

Richardson phoned into the office with his typical easygoing banter. "Are you feeding everybody or are you your usual cheap self?" he asked Martinez.

Starbucks coffee and Winchell's doughnuts were in the next room. About 45 people stopped by, including attorney Eva Garcia Mendoza, whose office is down the street, and Clark County Public Administrator John Cahill.

Cahill, who founded and runs the Nevada Outdoor Democratic Caucus, was hoping to get Richardson to be the first presidential candidate to post a statement on his caucus Web site. Cahill wants the candidates to comment on general outdoors issues, including rights in firearms ownership and access to public lands and states' rights to manage wildlife resources.

"I'd like him to be the first," Cahill said. "He'll be the benchmark."

Cahill believes outdoors issues are critical not just in rural Nevada, but also to peel away Republicans gun owners in labor unions and other traditional Democratic constituencies.

On Thursday, Richardson supporters touted his diplomatic skills and resume. They asked him to speak Spanish and cheered when he complied.

Cahill thinks a candidate like Richardson can only benefit from the caucus process. And in his estimation, Richardson, like Nevada, could be a huge influence on the national process.

Erin Neff's column runs Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. She can be reached at (702) 387-2906 or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.