Ensign's enthusiasm transcends storm clouds

Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., opened his Las Vegas campaign office Monday with an outdoor barbecue beneath dark skies that flirted with the possibility of a major storm.

"The rain is not going to stop this campaign," said the candidate, who was pelted with light sprinkles as supporters crowded under a shelter. "Nothing is going to stop this campaign, and we are going to be victorious November 3."

Ensign, a two-term Congressman, is challenging incumbent Sen. Harry Reid.

The Las Vegas veterinarian acknowledged he is the underdog in this race.

"We're going to prove all the political experts wrong," he said. "We are going to take this state."

Campaign Manager Mike Slanker said he is not aware of any recent polls showing the spread between Ensign and Reid.

But in April a Republican survey indicated Ensign behind by nine points, though a Democratic poll a few days later showed the difference at 17 points.

Whatever the spread, Slanker said the campaign team is confident of overcoming the split and will win come November.

"We will need $3 1/2 million," noted Slanker. "We've raised $2 million so far."

Slanker said Reid has lost touch with the people.

"In just four votes he raised $433 billion in taxes," said Slanker.

Ensign told his supporters there is a classic difference between Reid and himself.

"This contest is between a fiscal liberal and a fiscal conservative," said Ensign. "Reid has consistently raised taxes, and I have consistently voted to cut taxes and spending."

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NEAL OPPOSES MERGER -- Senator Joe Neal is urging voters to wait until the proposed merger between Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific is reviewed by state and federal regulators before supporting the proposal. An advertisement that ran in Las Vegas and Reno sparked Neal to issue a warning about the merger. Neal called the ad, which was made up of letters supporting the merger, corporate propaganda cloaked in the legitimacy of government. "With no proposal yet before regulatory bodies, the intent and purpose of such a media campaign raises serious questions," Neal said. "The overall benefits of the proposed merger ... cannot be determined until a formal filing is made." Neal has reservations about how the proposed merger will affect Nevada ratepayers as well as the loss of jobs that the merger may entail. "When this merger was proposed last month, they announced the elimination of 250 positions in addition to the 300 who left the companies last year," Neal said.

ALPHABET SOUP -- Las Vegas attorney Michael Schaefer once again has challenged the alphabetizing of candidates names on ballots, and once again he has lost in court. District Judge Myron Leavitt tossed out the motion Monday, noting the Nevada Supreme Court had rejected one of his earlier attempts because there was no showing that being first or last on the ballot provides an advantage -- as Schaefer claimed. Schaefer, who is fourth on a list of five in the race for a newly created Las Vegas Justice Court judgship, again had no proof Monday other than the opinions of a couple of unnamed elected officials. Deputy District Attorney Mary-Anne Miller said that state law requires candidates be listed alphabetically and argued that all of Schaefer's supporters won't have much problem finding his name on the ballot. Other candidates in the race are Jennifer Togliatti, Jack Fields, Martin Hastings and Brian Morrison. While the issue is resolved for the moment in state court, the identical issue will be addressed today in a federal courtroom in Las Vegas.

BURNS ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY -- Jim Burns has accepted the Libertarian Party nomination for candidacy for Representative in Congress District one. Burns said the theme of his campaign is that people should be allowed to live as they please as long as they allow others to do the same. The two issues that Burns will focus his campaign on are Social Security and the war on drugs. According to Burns both government programs do not allow people to live as they please. Burns said he believes that Social Security will bankrupt the nation and needs to be abolished, while the war on drugs is a waste of time and funds. "The war on drugs is really a war on people who disagree with the government about what they put in their bodies," Burns said. "If you try to force people not to do what they want to do, so long as they are not harming others, you will get results that you don't want."

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