Big money folks friendly to both sides

The campaign tough talk suggests Democrats and Republicans are divided as ever.

But in Nevada there's plenty of big money folks friendly with both sides.

The state's most powerful Democrat, Sen. Harry Reid, has a long list of influential supporters in his "Republicans for Reid" group.

And it was Reid who helped elevate former Republican attorney general Brian Sandoval to a job as a federal judge.

Now Sandoval has stepped down from the judge job to run for governor, a job also sought by Reid's son, Democrat Rory Reid.

The latest campaign finance filings show Sandoval still has support from Sen. Reid's backers.

At least $39,500 in Sandoval donations come from people on the "Republicans for Reid" list or their companies. That's about 4 percent of Sandoval's total amount raised of $903,000.

Among Sandoval donors who are also Republicans for Reid: Tim Poster and Tom Breitling of Wynn Resorts, each giving $5,000; former resort executive Tony Alamo Sr. who gave $9,000; M Resort, which has Reid Republican Tony Marnell as CEO and chairman, gave $10,000; and a political action committee from Station Casinos, which counts Reid Republicans Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta as co-founder and CEO and chairman of the board, respectively, gave $10,000.

Some of the same donors who supported Sandoval and Sen. Reid also supported Rory Reid.

A rundown by Anjeanette Damon at the Reno Gazette-Journal highlighted Wynn Resorts and M Resorts among myriad cab companies, mining interests and others who gave to both gubernatorial candidates.

DEMOCRATS BEAT UP ON HECK

Speaking of tangled relationships, Democrats are beating up on former state Sen. Joe Heck for holding a government job and receiving government contracts despite his campaign slams on government work.

It was a campaign statement from Heck, one of several running for the congressional seat held by Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., that seemed to rub Democrats the wrong way.

In it Heck says Titus is "desperate to keep her taxpayer funded title, paycheck and mailing privileges and will do anything to avoid getting a real job ..."

To settle the score the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee blasted an e-mail listing Heck's former job as a state senator and a list of contracts his medical consulting company reported having with government agencies.

"Joe Heck should tamp down his hypocrisy, hold the mirror up to himself, and stop being dishonest with Southern Nevada voters," the committee wrote.

KNECHT SUPPORTS GOVERNOR

Ron Knecht, a self-described member of the Nevada Assembly's "Mean 15," is fired up for what many would consider a lost cause.

Knecht is the new Northern Nevada campaign chairman for Gov. Jim Gibbons.

"I think Jim is simply put the best choice for the next governor of Nevada," Knecht says of Gibbons, who has a favorable rating below 20 percent among Nevada voters and only about $35,000 in his campaign fund.

Knecht says Gibbons made a promise not to raise taxes and stuck to it.

Gibbons, however, did not veto a $200 million increase in room taxes, instead allowing the hike to go into effect without his signature.

It makes sense Knecht would hold Gibbons' tax policy in high regard. The aforementioned "Mean 15" was a group of 15 Assembly members who in 2003 opposed a tax increase and prompted a constitutional crises and the Nevada Supreme Court case, Guinn v. Legislature. It was argued by then-attorney general Brian Sandoval, who is challenging Gibbons in the primary.

Knecht's position with the Gibbons campaign is unpaid.

LONGTIME FRIEND BACKS GIBBONS

Last week Gibbons also announced his longtime friend Ron Bath would be interim campaign manager.

Bath, a retired Air Force major general who lives in Reno, is also a Democrat.

He flew with Gibbons in the Persian Gulf War and has been friends with the conservative Republican governor since the two were in college.

"I guess I'm kind of a real conservative Democrat," Bath said.

Bath cited former Nevada Gov. Mike O'Callaghan as a reference point for his own political views.

"That's the kind of Democrat I am, I guess that's why I like Jim Gibbons," he said.

When asked whether he would change his registration in order to cast a ballot for Gibbons in the Republican primary Bath said: "I'll vote for him in the general."

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.