Big names boost Jones campaign

Hillary Rodham Clinton will join a list of national Democratic party heavyweights coming to Nevada to raise money for Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones' gubernatorial bid.

Jones' campaign got a boost Friday when Vice President Al Gore spoke at a rally and a fund-raiser, and the first lady is expected to keep the ball rolling later this month.

"The reason these people come is primarily to raise money," said Steve Parker, a professor of political science at UNLV. "They also are hoping to someday collect on some political IOUs. Let's say Al Gore runs for president. He may be hoping to receive support from Jan Jones."

Jones said she raised $600,000 with the $1,000-a-plate dinner and a $5,000 private reception, her largest political fund-raiser to date. She said she so far has raised $1.7 million in her campaign.

That number is sure to rise again when the first lady visits later this month. That visit is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 16.

During his Las Vegas speech at the Stardust hotel-casino, Gore called Jones the "fastest-rising star" in the Democratic Party. He also called for Republicans in Congress to move beyond their current investigation and focus on issues such as saving Social Security and education reform.

But the Monica Lewinsky controversy may make Hillary Clinton a more interesting speaker for her planned Las Vegas fund-raiser, said Michael Bowers, a professor of political science at UNLV.

"People are wondering what she is going to say about Bill," he said. "She really hasn't said anything publicly about the Lewinsky affair. People are waiting for that shoe to drop. It would be an interesting ticket.

"I think Hillary is seen much more sympathetically than she has been in the past. There has been a tendency to see her as rather cold and hard and a bit of a power seeker. But after this public humiliation she suffered after the Starr report, there is really a great deal more sympathy for her than there has been in the past."

Jones, for her part, says Hillary Clinton was an intriguing public speaker long before the current controversy.

"I think Hillary Clinton is an inspiration to Democrats and all women. She's strong; she's a lady, self-possessed; she believes passionately in the rights of women and children."

During the speeches Friday at the Stardust and at the Carpenter's Union Hall, Gore called for Democrats to battle complacency and to work hard for their party's ticket in Nevada.

"I would think, particularly for a female candidate, it would be better to bring in Gore rather than President Clinton," Bowers said. "At this point, we don't know how the Clinton situation is going to end up."

Jones said there is an open invitation to the president to campaign for her, but she added that he has been quite busy with economic and international issues.

"In terms of elected office holders, if I were a Democrat, Gore is definitely who I would want to come in for a fund-raiser," Bowers said.

While hosting big-name speakers obviously helps raise campaign contributions, it is not as clear how much it helps among the voters.

"I think it helps in a very subtle and indirect way," Bowers said. "It shows this is a person who is connected with the political mainstream. This is a person who knows people in high places. Presumably, she can use that influence to the benefit of the state."

Jones' Republican opponent, Kenny Guinn, has not had as many high-profile political leaders stump for him. So far, according to Guinn's campaign manager Pete Ernaut, Guinn has raised in the neighborhood of $4.5 million.

"We aren't too impressed by the bright lights and big city," Ernaut said. "We don't think Nevadans are particularly impressed by people coming in from Washington. We think they would much rather hear what fellow Nevadans have to say."

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