Gibbons confident he will win gubernatorial primary

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons expressed confidence Tuesday morning that the polls are wrong and he will defeat Republican challengers Brian Sandoval and Michael Montandon in the gubernatorial primary.

"I am optimistic," said Gibbons following a state Board of Examiners meeting. "I am very comfortable. We will see what the end of the day brings."

But the latest poll conducted for the Review-Journal showed Gibbons losing to Sandoval by 14 percentage points.

Gibbons said pollsters operate under the assumption that people they interview actually will vote. That isn't always the case, he added.

He noted the Rep. Jim Bilbray, D-Nev., led in the final poll in 1994, but lost a close election to Republican John Ensign, now a U.S. senator.

"I remember Jim Bilbray saying he was extremely confident about winning," Gibbons said.

If he loses, Gibbons would be the first governor in state history to lose a primary. The last governor to lose a general election was Bob List in November 1982. List also was governor of Nevada during a recession.

Whichever Republican wins the primary will have his endorsement in the general election, Gibbons said.

He called Sandoval and Montandon his friends in an April debate, and on Tuesday he said that remains the case, but he wasn't about to say anything more nice about them until after the votes are counted.

"You are assuming one of them is going to win," Gibbons quipped.

Gibbons said he is pleased by the reaction he has received from everyday citizens about his stance against taxes and increasing state spending.

"Ordinary Moms and Pops in stores (in Laughlin) walked up and said thanks," Gibbons said. "It is kind of a pleasant remark to hear. Government can control spending. There is no excuse for continuing robust spending at a time when the economy is in dire straits."

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.