Titus embraces ‘second to none’ theme for Democratic nominee

By Amber Phillips

Thursday, June 12, 2014 | 2:09 p.m.

Rep. Dina Titus said she’s “disappointed” her party couldn’t pull together a candidate that could top the “none” option that won the Nevada Democratic primary’s gubernatorial race.

“I’m disappointed we won’t have somebody running at the top of the ticket,” the Las Vegas Democrat said.

Technically somebody is running.

After a plurality of voters, or 29.9 percent, checked “none of these candidates” in Tuesday’s primary, the Democratic nomination went to Las Vegas resident Robert Goodman, who received 24.7 percent of the vote.

But Goodman is a mystery man. The Las Vegas resident lists no income, no property, no debts and no campaign disclosures on federal election filings. He was Gov. Michael O’Callaghan’s director of economic development in the 1970s, according to the Associated Press.

The outcome of Tuesday's primary was a far cry from when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed Nevada Democrats would find a viable challenger to Gov. Brian Sandoval in the November elections.

Titus, who does not have a competitive race in November, said she thought the lack of a strong candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket would affect turnout for other races, such as the matchup between Democrat Lucy Flores and Republican Mark Hutchison for lieutenant governor.

Titus did offer some campaign advice: For Goodman to use a headline that’s circulating as his campaign slogan.

“I like the new slogan ‘second to none,’” Titus said. “I think that’s going to catch on.”