Gibbons opts to stay neutral

WASHINGTON -- Gov. Jim Gibbons stopped short of endorsing John McCain as the Republican presidential nominee on Tuesday even though Republicans in Nevada's congressional delegation have vowed to support the Arizona senator.

"There are still people out there who are very passionate about Mike Huckabee, and I don't want to tell them that their vote, their ideas and their enthusiasm for the electoral process is not important," said Gibbons, who was wrapping up a visit to Washington after attending the annual conference of the National Governors Association over the weekend.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., endorsed McCain on Feb. 15.

The other two Republicans in Nevada's congressional delegation -- Reps. Dean Heller and Jon Porter -- said Tuesday they endorse McCain as the GOP presidential nominee.

Gibbons praised McCain and predicted he would be a formidable candidate in November in Nevada.

"I think, in Nevada, John McCain is going to do very well because of our growing, large veterans population. People like John McCain because of his leadership, his fiscal conservative policies when it comes to pork barrel spending on the federal side of things," Gibbons said.

Gibbons said his choice for McCain's vice presidential running mate would be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who won the Republican caucus in Nevada last month.

Gibbons, who is a Mormon, said he was appalled by the media's coverage of Romney's Mormon faith.

"The media demonized the (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) religion as if it were some sort of a cult," he said.

The governor acknowledged he is "very concerned" about the surge in Democratic voter registration in Nevada due to the party's presidential caucus.

There now are 44,676 more Democrats than Republicans in the state, according to a Feb. 20 report by the secretary of state.

"We're kind of behind the eight ball as Republicans. We need to catch up," Gibbons said.

Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal officials were investigating allegations that Gibbons accepted more than $110,000 in gifts and payments from businessman Warren Trepp in exchange for legislation by Gibbons when he served in the House.

During this trip, Gibbons said he was not going to meet with Washington lawyers defending him against the bribery allegations.

The governor also said he remains "absolutely" opposed to a proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain despite allowing the Department of Energy to use Nevada water to explore the site.

Gibbons, 63, also said he has made the decision to run for a second term as governor in 2010, and does not plan to ever return to Congress.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau writer Tony Batt at tbatt@stephensmedia.com or (202) 783-1760.