Party officials differ over effect of Clinton's troubles on Nevada voters

GOP executive director Dan Burdish says fewer Democrats will vote, but state Democratic chairman Paul Henry argues Nevada voters have a history of independent thinking.

Henry noted that in 1974, when Republicans were getting beaten in elections nationwide, Republican Paul Laxalt won a tough U.S. Senate race in Nevada.

Henry also said then-President Reagan flew to Nevada five times in 1986 to back Jim Santini for the House but Santini still lost. And in 1994, what Henry termed the year of the Republican massacre, Sen. Richard Bryan and Gov. Bob Miller, both Democrats, won.

"Nevadans are remarkably independent and they vote primarily on local issues," said Henry.

Burdish said as more and more devastating details come out of the independent counsel's report on Clinton, it will depress turnout on the Democratic side. He added some Democrats could lose close races, brought down just by association.

Burdish also said Clinton's problems may not tie specifically to any Nevada race, but reducing the turnout among the party faithful will improve chances for Republicans at every level in Nevada.

Burdish said that's what happened to Republicans in the years after Watergate. He added that any Democrat who has ethical or moral problems will face more intense voter scrutiny.

Both Burdish and Henry said the key to what happens in Nevada this November is how the Democrats get out to vote.

Burdish said Democrats angered or disheartened by Clinton's conduct may decide to stay home while Republicans, especially those who hate Clinton, may be in a much more euphoric mood - and he intends to use that to get them to the polls.

He added that he doubts any sympathy will develop for Clinton because he has strung out the American people and his friends for eight months over the sex charges.

"This has been costing what, $10 million a year? So let's take the last eight months and charge that to Clinton," said Burdish, pointing out that Newt Gingrich, a Republican, paid for costs of an investigation into his fund-raising activities.

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