Gibbons wants Obama meeting

Gov. Jim Gibbons has sent a letter asking President Barack Obama to meet with him when the president visits Las Vegas next month.

Gibbons said in a news release that many locals were offended by Obama's earlier comments slamming lavish Vegas junkets by companies receiving federal bailout funds. Meeting with Nevada's governor, Gibbons suggested, would placate those who were insulted by the president's remarks.

“I think a face-to-face meeting between the President, myself, and Nevada business leaders would do a lot to help overcome the perception that President Obama finds visiting Las Vegas somehow offensive,” Gibbons said in the news release. “If President Obama can come to Las Vegas to ask for political campaign cash, he can certainly take some time to explore helping the people who live and work here, we are all Americans.”

In the letter, Gibbons proposes including "key business leaders" in a meeting to "discuss how we can get our tourism industry back on track in Nevada with the support of the federal government to urge Americans to consider America first when they plan their vacations or business meetings."

Obama is scheduled to be in Las Vegas on May 26 for a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Further details of the visit, including a possible public event, haven't been announced.