Clinton encourages support of Kate Marshall’s campaign

CARSON CITY -- While many residents in the district don't know a special Sept. 13 congressional election is coming, former President Bill Clinton and a lot of high-ranking Republican mucky mucks sure do.

Clinton e-mailed district residents Tuesday asking them to contribute $25, $50 or whatever they can to "my friend" Kate Marshall's campaign for the vacant 2nd Congressional District seat. Marshall, the Democrat, faces Republican Mark Amodei in a race that insiders fear could draw a scant 20 percent of the district's 400,000 active voters.

While Marshall reported she had received more than $100,000 in contributions on July 15 than Amodei, his campaign has been bolstered by an independent $250,000 buy of TV commercials by the Republican National Congressional Committee.

The national party ads excoriate Marshall, blaming even her for the state's high unemployment and foreclosure rates and an increase in the state's unemployment rate. One NRCC ad was pulled by a Reno TV station.

"Time is running out and my friend Kate needs urgent resources to spread her positive message on the airwaves in the final weeks," said Clinton in his e-mail.

Marshall's own ads, however, have been accusing Amodei of trying to destroy Social Securit Medicare, which he emphatically denies.

Clinton wants Marshall supporters to come up with $35,000 by Friday so she can buy more TV ads.

There are 30,000 more Democrat than Repubkican in the district that includes all of the state but the central part of Clark County. A Democrat never has won the seat.