Rory Reid calls Gibbons ‘worst governor in America’

Democratic candidate for Governor Rory Reid launched a new attack on Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, calling Gibbons "the worst governor in America," in a letter to supporters.

Here's how Reid started his letter, which was a fund raising solicitation: "I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of the worst governor in America running our state into the ground. Remember when the FBI investigated him for selling his vote in Congress to campaign contributors? Remember the reports of secret meetings and the incompetent appointments?
We need to send Jim Gibbons packing."

The anti-Gibbons rhetoric is likely to be popular with Democratic donors, and maybe some Republicans, as Gibbons' positive opinion rating with voters is below 20 percent.

It didn't, however, sit well with Gibbons.

His campaign manager Robert Olmer sent this response: "We are completely mystified as to why Rory Reid would be so desperate as to attack Governor Gibbons, referring to allegations that have either been proven false or completely baseless.
Besmirching Governor Gibbons, who is a veteran of two wars and is a decorated military pilot, puts Mr. Reid at the top of new lows in Nevada if not national politics."

"There is no excuse for these types of comments stemming from Mr. Reid and or his campaign, and it might be prudent for him to focus on the job that he was elected for in Clark County considering the myriad of (sic) problems that exist in his own backyard instead of attacking Governor Gibbons."

Although Gibbons said "besmirching" a veteran represented "the top of new lows" by Reid, Gibbons himself had the chance in 2004 to stand up and defend Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., from false attacks against his military record and refused.

An August 20, 2004 article in the Las Vegas Sun sought Gibbons' response to attacks on Kerry's service in the Vietnam War.
The attacks by the re-election campaign of President George W. Bush criticized Kerry for voting against some defense funding, according to the Sun piece.

The Sun reported: "Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said Bush has shown 'great compassion' for veterans and realizes the enormity of the war on terror. Gibbons criticized Kerry's comments that the United States would reach out to other countries to be allies and fight a 'sensitive' war on terror."