Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007 | 6:59 a.m.
When Rory Reid told his father, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, that he would be chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in Nevada, the elder Reid felt a minor political headache coming on.
"It would have been easier for me if he kept his powder dry," the Senate majority leader said. "I said, 'Well, I guess I'm going to have to talk to those senators if that's what you're going to do.' "
Those senators include Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, all presidential hopefuls and each an essential piece of Reid's slim majority in the Senate. And to keep that majority intact, it's essential that Harry Reid be seen by his colleagues as neutral in the nominating process.
For Rory Reid, however, it's not only a unique opportunity to play a role on the national stage of presidential politics, but also a chance to distinguish himself from his father and shore up high-powered political support - both important for the Clark County commissioner's political future.
By most accounts, the senator from New York and wife of former President Bill Clinton scored a small victory when she landed Rory Reid.
First, there's the inherent fundraising and networking ability of the chairman of the Clark County Commission.
Then there is Reid's lifelong understanding of Nevada issues and their political nuances.
And there's the potential for the perception - inaccurate though it may be - that Rory Reid's support is a pass-through endorsement from his father.
In short, few of Nevada's high-profile Democrats are more desirable campaign chairmen than Reid. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, for example, is popular here, but imagine the field day that Fox News would have with an offhand comment about drinking gin with the candidate or, worse, a photo op with showgirls.
The Clinton-Reid political alliance was born about four years ago when the commissioner hosted a fundraiser for the state Democratic Party at his home.
"She was the star of the show," Reid said. "I think that's when I developed an affinity for her."
Reid says he decided to support Clinton because he believes "it's her moment in history."
Her grasp of the issues is especially impressive and her intellect is a much-needed alternative to President Bush, lampooned nightly, fairly or not, for his perceived intellectual shortcomings.
But if Clinton has something to gain from the partnership, so, too, does Reid, because his support for her presidential bid sets him up well for the future.
Reid is seen as a rising political star. A run for statewide or federal office is inevitable, many political observers believe.
If that becomes political reality, Reid's early support for Clinton in a key caucus state that will be one of the Democrats' first battlegrounds in 2008 could allow him to reap benefits later.
If Clinton is elected, there would be the potential for a White House appointment or at least presidential support for a later run for higher office.
Even if Clinton loses, Reid, known for his political caution, will have little at risk. True, he may not be overnighting at the White House, but he will have gained a potent friend who is one of the nation's top political fundraisers. And any danger of political payback if a Democrat other than Clinton ends up in the White House likely would be neutralized by that other politician named Reid who already is in Washington.
Perhaps as important for Reid's future is his ability to distinguish himself from his father. Name recognition has its limits and even its disadvantages.
For example, when Pat DeWine, a Republican county commissioner in Cincinnati, aimed for a congressional seat in 2005, his defeat was widely attributed to backlash against his father, then-U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, who angered his Republican base when he joined a group of senators who allowed Democrats to retain filibuster power in exchange for a full Senate vote on three Bush judicial appointees.
Reid, though, insists his decision was based on his conviction that Clinton is right for the country, not whether she was right for his political future.
"I haven't spent a lot of time sitting around charting the right political course," Reid said. "I didn't really think about that."
In deciding to work with Clinton, Reid might have discomforted his father. But he understands the need to be seen as his own man.
Ironically, it is his close relationship to his father that allows him to be so bold in showcasing their differences. For example, he spoke of his father this way when talking to the local media earlier this week: "I don't tell him what to do in Washington, and he doesn't tell me what to do in Nevada."
Few Democrats would speak so bluntly about Harry Reid, who for all practical purposes is the Democratic Party in Nevada.
While Reid's decision to support Clinton is relatively risk-free, Clinton's decision to go with Reid is risky for at least one reason: Reid is untested in a tough campaign.
In both of his commission contests, Reid easily walked over token opponents. That prompts some to question whether he has the kind of political organization that is key to success in a caucus, an unusual contest that puts a premium on mastery of logistical and mobilization skills.
In that, Reid is the opposite of state Sen. Dina Titus, who lost a bitter battle for governor in November, but won the Democratic primary in that contest with a strong grass-roots infrastructure.
Reid is not particularly close to labor. Unions, with their organizing abilities, are expected to play a significant role in the caucus. Although not a foe of labor, Reid has voted against union-pushed issues in the past.
Reid, though, argues that his organizational ability is not an issue. As Clinton's Nevada chairman and adviser on Western issues, his role is to prep her on strategy, guide her when she is in the state and speak for her when she is not. The campaign plans to hire organizers, he said.
Even without a staff in place here, Clinton's campaign has already used Reid - albeit subtly - to take a jab at another front-runner.
During Illinois Sen. Obama's first campaign appearance in Nevada last Sunday, Clinton's campaign sought to steal some of his thunder with the announcement that Reid would be joining its camp.
One year from now, Nevada - and the country - will learn whether that appointment was more than simply one day's headline.
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