All tricks, solo treating for Gibbons

By David McGrath Schwartz

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 | 2 a.m.

For about an hour on Thursday, Gov. Jim Gibbons appeared to have finally secured a role in the Republican presidential campaign.

The beleaguered governor, passed over by the McCain campaign for any part, was to have shared the Governor’s Mansion on Halloween evening with Sarah Palin’s mother and father. The governor’s office said on Thursday that Gibbons and Chuck and Sally Heath would pass out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters, a longtime tradition at the Carson City mansion.

The McCain campaign immediately denied that the Palins would do any such thing.

But Gibbons office stuck to its statement through its silence.

Then, about 6:22 p.m., the dam burst.

The Palins had a scheduling conflict, all sides agreed.

So Gibbons will pass out the candy without them, as well as without his estranged wife, Dawn, who had said last week she would be at the mansion passing out goodies on Halloween.

Alas, she, too, won’t make it, this time at Gibbons’ request.