Democrats rake in funds ahead of 2010 election

Two Democrats who are contemplating gubernatorial runs in 2010 have around $1 million each in the bank for their campaigns, while potential Republican contenders, including incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons, showed lagging fundraising in campaign finance reports filed last week with the secretary of state's office.

Gibbons raised about $260,000 for his campaign fund in 2008, while North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon, who has said he plans to challenge Gibbons for the Republican nomination, took in just $20,000.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, raised $590,000 over the course of the year, leaving her with nearly $1 million in her campaign account, according to an aide.

Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, also a Democrat, raised $670,000 in a new gubernatorial campaign fund and had $370,000 left from his commission campaigns, giving him about $1 million in the bank as well.

Reid says he is strongly considering a 2010 gubernatorial run, while Buckley, whose money was raised in her Assembly campaign account, will say only that she is focused for now on the legislative session, which begins Feb. 2.

Political insiders say economic conditions have made fundraising difficult over the past year. Two sectors Nevada politicians have traditionally relied upon to fund their campaigns -- gaming and developers -- have been hit especially hard by the recession and have cut back on donations.

Buckley's haul included donations from numerous labor unions as well as gaming, construction, insurance, health care, financial, pharmaceutical, transportation and mining corporations.

She got $5,000 from Sunbelt Communications, the television company owned by higher education Chancellor Jim Rogers; $2,500 from the Searchlight Leadership Fund, the political action committee of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; $1,000 from Cal Dunlap, the divorce attorney representing first lady Dawn Gibbons; $2,500 from Virginia-based Philip Morris USA; and $500 from George Flint, a lobbyist for the brothel industry.

Rory Reid's contributors included construction, development and gaming corporations; the former Strip entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, who each gave $10,000; former County Manager Thom Reilly; former Commissioner Chip Maxfield, a Republican; $1,000 from North Carolina-based Lorillard Tobacco; $2,500 from Jim Rogers' son Perry, Sunbelt's editorial chairman; and $2,000 from the Washington Democratic operative James Carville.

Under Nevada law, candidates may accept a maximum of $5,000 per election, for a total of $10,000 for the primary and general elections from each donor.

Montandon, who began talking about a gubernatorial challenge last fall, turned over $15,000 from his mayoral campaign account to seed his newly created gubernatorial committee and received a single $5,000 contribution.

Although November 2010 is a long way off, candidates typically try to make a statement with their early fundraising, establishing their strength and scaring off potential opponents.

Jim Gibbons, who has lost many powerful allies during his first two years in office, reported contributions from cab companies, utilities and the Tiberti construction company. KeyState Corporate Management, the Delaware-based business of Gibbons confidant Monte Miller, gave $10,000.

It was not possible to determine how much cash Gibbons had on hand, since that is not a required disclosure and fundraising is cumulative from one year to the next. Gibbons reported spending more than $175,000 last year. In 2007, he reported raising $110,000 and spending $190,000.

At the same time, Gibbons has been raising funds for his legal defense fund, used to handle his legal problems. Last year, he raised $152,000 and spent $137,000 from the fund.

Donations included $30,000 from Station Casinos and members of the Fertitta family, which owns Station.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball @reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.