Nevada's Best Campaigns of the 21st Century

Submitted by editornv on November 3, 2007 - 12:35pm.

One of our regular features at PolitickerNV.com will be a series of lists that we hope you will enjoy. With the launch of our new Nevada-based political news site, we are pleased to offer our lists of Nevada’s Ten Best and Worst Camp aigns of the 21st Century (well, almost: a few are from the last century; we can’t help it!)

For the most part, we looked at races that were highly competitive. Some campaigns perform extremely well, but of course, they are expected to win. And there are the so-called sacrificial lambs, running for various offices across the state that are not expected to raise money, go in the mailbox, or even send out press releases; we tried not to bother them.

Remember, this list – like all lists – are highly subjective. And as always, we encourage the feedback of our readers.

Name:

Kenny Guinn for Governor, 1998 General (R)

Description:

It doesn't matter that our #1 Best Campaign is from the last century! In a year when NV still had a fairly popular Democrat Governor (Bob Miller) and Democrats held a solid half of the State Legislature, Guinn managed to win as a Republican by 10 points (52%-42%) over one of the most well-known TV icons in Nevada, Jan Laverty Jones. Remember the Fletcher Jones auto dealer ads? People (meaning Guinn) questioned her ties to the gaming industry. That’s brave. It’s widely known that Guinn was elected because of his broad and well-financed support from the gaming industry.

Name:

Oscar Goodman for Mayor, 2003 General (Non-Partisan)

Description:

Winning with 85.7%, Democrat Goodman placed himself in an elite class of major city mayors with one of the largest margins of victory. Almost 9 out of 10 voters chose him, and he since went on to win a third term in 2007 with a paltry 83.7%. Gin endorsements and former mobster clients or not, that’s nothing to sneeze at. What will he do in 2011 when he’s term-limited?

Name:

John Ensign for U.S. Senate, 1998 General (R)

Description:

He may have lost the race, but he waged an amazing campaign. Ensign’s powerful, incumbent opponent was Senator Harry Reid who held the seat since 1986 and still does. Nevadans have known Reid for more than 30 years. He once chaired the Nevada Gaming Commission – talk about insider to the gaming industry – and was a Nevada Congressman. Then-Congressman Ensign spent $3.5 million to Reid’s $4.9 million. Both record sums in those days. Ensign only lost the statewide office by 428 votes – statewide – after a hand recount that lasted until December 9.

Name:

Shelley Berkley for Congress, 2002 General (D)

Description:

Three times is a charm. Berkley first barely won her seat in 1998 against a non-candidate Judge Donald Chairez. Then she struggled to get to 52% against then-State Senator Jon Porter in 2000. In 2002, Berkley locked the seat up and threw away the keys against Lynette Boggs-McDonald who would have been the first black woman elected to the U.S. House. Boggs-McDonald’s war chest and solid issues flat-out lost big to what became the Berkley juggernaut, with a little help from redistricting. Berkley won 54%-43%. She just won in 2006 with 64.8%.

Name:

Jon Porter for Congress, 2006 General (R)

Description:

Porter squeaked this out 48.5%-46.6% against Tessa Hafen in one of the worst Republican years in history in a district evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Two weeks before e-day, former staffer Jim Shepard accused Porter of illegally using official offices for fundraising calls. Porter weathered this unproved claim and out raised the Harry Reid-approved candidate Hafen. Can he hold the seat?

Name:

Bush-Cheney 2004 General (R)

Description:

Like him or not, President Bush ran a nearly flawless campaign in NV given what he had to work with on Yucca Mountain. He said in 2000 he would support the best science regarding the nuclear repository, and his Department of Energy said the science was good. True or not, John Kerry supported Yucca outright back in the 1980’s. Sorry John Kerry. It was just another issue that labeled you a flip-flopper. NV might have been yours otherwise.

Name:

Ross Miller for Secretary State, 2006 General (D)

Description:

Son of former Governor Bob Miller, youngest Secretary of State ever in Nevada, youngest Secretary of State in the U.S. Versus Danny Tarkanian, son of UNLV Runnin’ Rebels’ Basketball Coach Jerry Tarkanian. Battle of the name I.D. titans. Miller was not shy about taking advantage of Tark’s weaknesses – allegations of practicing law without a license, telemarketing fraud, and academic fraud while a coach at Fresno State. Watch for Ross Miller in Nevada’s future. He is now the third highest ranking state official. Miller won 48.7%-40.6%.

Name:

Mike Schneider for State Senate, 2004 General (D)

Description:

So your name can’t get you everything in Las Vegas. Schneider beat Danny Tarkanian but only by 2,000 votes. Great use of incumbent power and a good ground game to beat name I.D.

Name:

Ban Indoor Smoking, State Question 5, 2006

Description:

Wow. Really. Casinos opposed it. Bars and restaurants opposed it. In Nevada that usually means you lose. Sure, casinos are exempt, but this law has teeth. No smoking in any bar that serves food. No smoking in slot machine areas of groceries or corner stores, plus just about anywhere else.

Name:

Bruce Woodbury for Clark County Commissioner, 2004 General (R)

Description:

This race ranks purely on the numbers. Woodbury is a Boulder City and Henderson fixture. Even if your opponent is with the Independent American Party, not many politicians will ever see a victory like Woodbury’s in 2004. He won 78.6%-21.3%. This is really a testament to his ability to keep any sane Democrats out of the race completely.

Comments

I'm glad that I can finally

posted by Cigar

I'm glad that I can finally see a woman between all these men. It's about time that women and men have the same rights, even in political domain.

07/17/08 9:11 am

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