Paul Laxalt

Even newcomers to state politics know that that 81-year-old William Raggio has dominated the Nevada political arena for more than forty years. But do young Nevadans know the story of how Raggio was Spiro Agnew’s hand-picked guy?

Back in 1970, national Republicans wanted to beat Howard Cannon, a two-term Democratic United States Senator. They almost did six years earlier, when Paul Laxalt, then the Lieutenant Governor, came within 48 votes of winning in a year when Lyndon Johnson was carrying Nevada with 59% of the vote.

Raggio has been viewed young rising star in Nevada politics since his election as Washoe County District Attorney in 1958, at age 32.

Robert List was part of a group of young prosecutors who once played a major role in Nevada politics. List's rise in politics was meteoric: he was 31-years-old when he was elected Ormsby County District Attorney in 1966 (a post Paul Laxalt held in the 1950's), and was elected state Attorney General four years later.

List, at 42, won election as Governor in 1978. He won 82% in the GOP primary, and defeated Democrat Robert Rose (who became Lieutenant Governor when Harry Reid ran against Laxalt for the U.S. Senate in 1974) by a 56%-40% margin.

It will be a busy week for the GOP fundraising machine after filing for office closes next month.

The GOP Senate Caucus has just sent out a 'save the date' e-mail for a May 21 event to be hosted in Reno.  The host committee includes Governor Jim Gibbons and all five former governors, including two Democrats.

Subtle message here:  Raggio is coming back.  

Even newcomers to state politics know that that 81-year-old William Raggio has dominated the Nevada political arena for more than forty years. But do young Nevadans know the story of how Raggio was Spiro Agnew’s hand-picked guy?

Back in 1970, national Republicans wanted to beat Howard Cannon, a two-term Democratic United States Senator. They almost did six years earlier, when Paul Laxalt, then the Lieutenant Governor, came within 48 votes of winning in a year when Lyndon Johnson was carrying Nevada with 59% of the vote.

Raggio has been viewed young rising star in Nevada politics since his election as Washoe County District Attorney in 1958, at age 32.

Timing in politics is everything, and it’s sometimes interesting to wonder how the careers of key players would have progressed if the voters had gone a different way.

Look at the race of United States Senator in 1970: what if Bill Raggio had been successful in unseating Democrat Howard Cannon?  Raggio could be in his seventh term as a U.S. Senator right now – and given his track record in Carson City over the last four decades, he would likely have emerged as a powerful Washington insider with considerable seniority.

A Raggio victory in ’70 would have meant now opportunity for Chic Hecht to take on Cannon in 1982, or for Richard Bryan to unseat Hecht six years later.  There would have been no open seat for John Ensign to compete for in 2000.  Maybe Ensign would have run for Governor instead when Kenny Guinn left office in 2006? Surely he would not have hung around until 2012, when Raggio would have been up for re-election again.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio told PolitickerNV.com that he’s still undecided about seeking re-election next year. His seat is not in jeopardy – it’s a likely Republican hold – but his retirement, or even the suggestion of one, would be truly historic.

Under state term limits laws, Raggio would be eligible to run again in 2008, and would have to retire at the end of 2012, when he would be 86-years-old.

Where does Governor Jim Gibbons stand in the Republican presidential contest? For that matter, neither have to respected Nevadans who served as both Governor and U.S. Senator: Democrat Richard Bryan and Republican Paul Laxalt.

If former Governor Bob List doesn't help Rudy Giuliani much, would Gibbons? Could a Gibbons endorsement help anyone? If it were me, I'd get on someone's ship and use it for all I could, but one has to wonder whether maybe no one wants his help right now.

Robert List, in the news yesterday after endorsing Rudy Giuliani for President, was part of a group of young prosecutors who once played a major role in Nevada politics. List's rise in politics was meteoric: he was 31-years-old when he was elected Ormsby County District Attorney in 1966 (a post Paul Laxalt held in the 1950's), and was elected state Attorney General four years later.

Even newcomers to state politics know that that 81-year-old William Raggio has dominated the Nevada political arena for more than forty years. But do young Nevadans know the story of how Raggio was Spiro Agnew’s hand-picked guy?

Back in 1970, national Republicans wanted to beat Howard Cannon, a two-term Democratic United States Senator. They almost did six years earlier, when Paul Laxalt, then the Lieutenant Governor, came within 48 votes of winning in a year when Lyndon Johnson was carrying Nevada with 59% of the vote.

Nevadans have contributed $2,901,288 to presidential candidates this cycle, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission through September 30. Republicans have brought in $1,792,530, while Democrats have raised $1,108,758 here.