Political foes emerge from unlikely areas to criticize Horsford

It should be all over but the shouting. Going by the usual indicators, Democrat Steven Horsford should be mopping the floor of the 4th Congressional District with Republican Danny Tarkanian.

The fact he's not is part of what makes theirs the most intriguing federal race on the Nevada ballot. The heavyweight wrestling match and the U.S. Senate shouting match are proverbial yawnfests by comparison.

If political victories were ensured by elected experience and business success, then Horsford already would be taking a victory lap. In the Legislature, Horsford rose to Senate majority leader. Tarkanian, meanwhile, has lost repeated attempts to win elected office and wears an anvil necklace in the form of a $17 million litigation judgment.

If election outcomes could be guaranteed by fundraising acumen, superior party organization and substantial voter registration advantages, once again Horsford would be the happiest man in CD4. The district's voter registration favors Democrats. When it comes to organizing, rallying, and getting out the vote, Nevada's Democratic Party machine is far superior to what passes for the state Republican Party structure these days.

Horsford's political résumé isn't pristine. He's been embarrassed by a fundraising plan that has been characterized as a "pay to play" scheme and has accepted big donations and a Bahama junket from the controversial PokerStars Internet gambling outfit.

But the judgment against Tarkanian realistically disqualifies him as a spokesman for the party of business, and Horsford can tout his job-creating role as CEO of the Nevada Partners/Culinary Training Academy.

And yet, Tarkanian held a slight lead over Horsford, 45 percent to 42 percent, in a Sept. 20 Las Vegas Review-Journal/KLAS SurveyUSA poll. While Horsford's camp has written off the poll as a reflection of Tarkanian's name recognition as the son of a legendary UNLV basketball coach and a longtime Las Vegas city councilwoman, other oddities make the statistical snapshot more interesting.

How much impact are the daily anti-Horsford haikus on social media by outspoken television station owner Jim Rogers having on the campaign?

Rogers is known for his political candor, and in a blog he recently skewered Horsford as an arrogant, poorly educated "blank piece of paper when he presents his credentials to compete in a brains and education world." And those might be Rogers' kindest words for Horsford, whom he accuses of failing to return a promised phone call. (A common complaint about the candidate.)

This past week Horsford said a meeting with Rogers had been arranged, but the fact this fire wasn't doused long ago makes the aspiring congressman look like a real amateur.

Potentially far more damaging to Horsford is the assault he faces from local NAACP leader and contractor Frank Hawkins, a basher of a fellow African-American Democrat and an unabashed fan of Tarkanian. Although the NAACP doesn't endorse candidates, Hawkins made it clear which candidate has his support.

The former NFL running back hit Horsford at full speed.

"I like Steven," Hawkins said. "I supported him when he took over (state) Senator (Joe) Neal's seat. Steven, in my opinion, has forgotten where he came from. He hasn't supported the community to the level it should be supported. He has, in my opinion, almost turned his back on the community. He's not ever seen in the community. If it was not for an election, I doubt he would be here."

Hawkins chided Horsford as inaccessible and said he had let his old neighborhood down by not working harder to reopen F Street, which mysteriously closed during the U.S. Highway 95 expansion. Hawkins reeled off several instances in which Horsford hasn't measured up, then recited a number of areas where Tarkanian has vowed to work on behalf of economically challenged West Las Vegas.

Horsford's camp downplays the dustups as personality conflicts, and recently reminded skeptics Tarkanian's previous campaigns have faded down the backstretch like a bowlegged Shetland.

Perhaps they're right.

But with political enemies emerging from some unlikely areas, the favored Horsford has a race on his hands and not much room for error.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Email him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.