Ensign’s forgiveness tour continues

The John Ensign “Forgiven, Forgotten, For Good” Tour continued Friday in Southern Nevada with a taped radio interview aired on KNPR’s State of Nevada.

As interviews with the scandalized U.S. Senator go, this one once again demonstrated why Ensign shouldn’t run for re-election - and also why he can win.

Ensign continues to obfuscate the important issues surrounding his sex scandal. The sex part he’s apologized for. The creepy, unethical stuff – drumming up a pay off to Cynthia and Doug Hampton through his own parents, privately trying to hustle work for Hampton and seemingly promising access to the Senate in exchange – he downplays. His narcissism knows no end.

But let’s not kid ourselves. His political audacity is an impressive thing. And audacity will carry a fellow a long way on the campaign trail and in the eyes of jaded voters. If he can scare off Dean Heller, who says he's seriously considering making a primary challenge, Ensign is bound to get a major fund-raising bounce from national sources who can’t afford to lose the seat to a Democrat. He'll at least have a shot at retaining office.

Nevadans are a politically divided bunch. Ensign will need luck – a flat economy and help from an eventual opponent – but stranger things have happened in the Silver State.

Of course he’s damaged. I just don't think he’s dead yet.

Those who imagine Ensign can run but not hide from the Nevada press are kidding themselves. Sharron Angle blew off the state’s reporters, and I don’t think she suffered a bit in the polls. Ensign is carefully managing his access. Come campaign time, he’ll be able to say with even more conviction that his marital scandal is on the minds of reporters, but not voters.