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Nevada's Area 51 Delegation lands in San Diego

SAN DIEGO -- Some members of the Nevada delegation at the Republican National Convention are sporting buttons identifying themselves as members of the Area 51 Delegation.

The buttons bear a photo of Bob Dole on the right but the figure on the left is not Jack Kemp, it's Star Wars character C3PO.

It takes a brave soul who wants to be known publicly as "Aliens for Dole."

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Sometimes it's not a bad thing to sit toward the rear of a convention hall, or so the Nevadans are telling themselves.

The Silver State doesn't have the up-close-and-personal preferred seating this year like it did when Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt delivered President Reagan's nominating speech in 1984.

In fact, the Nevada delegation is toward the back of the San Diego Convention Center.

But that's not bad for people-watching because it's directly in front of the presidential box.

As the convention opened Monday, the most recognizable figure sitting front and center in the box was House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, holding hands with his wife, Marianne.

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Reno Assemblyman Pete Ernaut said his first act as the delegation's whip was to ban the wearing of goofy hats.

"Since we're in front of the presidential box, I said it was a matter of national security," Ernaut said.

However, he said goofy buttons would be acceptable.

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Most of the Nevada delegates are staying at the Bahia Hotel along with the Utah Republicans.

No one was able to figure out what Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was doing at breakfast there on Monday.

More that one Nevadan was wondering: What's a Democratic mayor doing at a Republican convention?

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Henderson Mayor Robert Groesbeck was so excited about attending his first GOP convention he showed up at 5:30 a.m. for a 6:45 flight to San Diego.

Unfortunately, his ticket was for a 6:45 p.m. flight.

He went home.

"That shows you how enthused I was to get here," he said.

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The San Diego airport was a troublesome spot for a few Nevadans attending the convention.

Alternate delegate Greg Ferraro left his bag at the airport, Reno Sen. Bill Raggio left his coat at the car rental counter and lobbyist Ed Allison left his coat on the plane, Ernaut said.

Everyone eventually retrieved their lost belongings, "but it was tough getting out of the block," Ernaut said.