And they’re off! In actuality, they—the dozen-plus candidates vying to become president of these United States—have been off and running since 2004, when John Kerry all but hand delivered George Bush a second go-round in the Oval Office. Thank the good Lord for term limits. Thank him, too, for the Democratic National Committee, which selected Nevada as an early caucus state and gave us front-row seats to the aggressive jockeying that is our quadrennial presidential derby. We’re big time, y’all; no longer a fly-over state. No more surrogates dispatched to say a lot without actually saying anything. Because we’ve got one of the nation’s first primaries (January 19), we’re getting the Clintons and Obamas, the Giulianis and McCains. Heck, Arizona Sen. John McCain has visited so much he might qualify for residency status. So with nearly 450 days before we decide who gets to cop a squat in the highest office in the land—and yes, we know, it’s early—the Weekly presents this handy handicappers’ guide to what promises to be a gore-filled, take-no-prisoners Running of the Candidates. Saddle up, y’all, it’s gonna be a wild one.
Joe Biden (D)
Current job: U.S. senator from Delaware
Local supporters: Says Biden’s state political director, Ronni Council, “the national office hasn’t released a list of supporters, but we’ve done very well with local fundraisers.”
Celebrity endorsers: Ditto.
Local headquarters: 2202 W. Charleston, Suite 13.
What the digs say about him: Either he’s hungry or was hard up for space in the center of the city. Biden’s office is but one amid a dozen or so businesses in the L-shaped commercial center on Charleston just east of Rancho. Parking is at a premium. Bidenites compete for space with patrons of a half-dozen eateries, including the venerable Omelet House. Inside, the office is airy and large. Council likes the centrality, the proximity to the state Democratic headquarters up the street and having all these restaurants nearby. “We don’t have a large staff. So we’ve got a lot of people who’ve watched the senator in the debates, saw our sign and came in after they’ve eaten.”
Where he’s been locally: Culinary Union headquarters, private fund-raisers in town, Carson City (via his sister Valerie Biden Owens).
Where he stands on ...
... unions: Lengthy record with labor bodes well, but Clinton, Obama and Edwards are all over the unions, too.
... water: Biden favors state-to-state negotiations. Been there, done/doing that.
Electability odds: Big dog, as in underdog.
Hillary Clinton (D)
Past gig: Former first lady
Current job: U.S. senator from New York
Local supporters: Include, but aren’t limited to, State Sen. Dina Titus, City Councilman Ricki Barlow, Nye County School Board president Dennis Keating, former Gov. Bob Miller, former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid and North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith.
Celebrity endorsers: Ruby Dee, Danny DeVito, Fran Drescher, Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump!), Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man!), Marla Maples, Paul Newman, Rhea Perlman, Pauly Shore, Ben Stiller (Zoolander!), Lily Tomlin, Rita Wilson and John Lithgow.
Local headquarters: 1055 E. Tropicana Ave. Suites 425 and 530.
What the digs say about her: That she’s going, ahem, balls out. Tucked into the bowels of a brownish office complex south of the Thomas & Mack Center are two offices. One side is the field office, where volunteers man the phones, stuff letters and run to and fro—the former first lady was in town last Thursday for three speaking engagements. Political operations are run out of the other office. It’s an efficient, balls-out operation. Says Nevadans for Hillary deputy communications director Ben Kobren: “We’re open seven days a week.”
Where she’s been locally: Bally’s, Culinary Union, Del Sol High, UNLV for a Democratic candidates’ healthcare forum, Pahrump, St. Rose hospital’s Siena campus, private fundraisers.
Where she stands on ...
... Yucca: Says she’ll de-fund it and push for tough radiation standards.
Electability odds: Early favorite. For her, winning is everything.
Christopher
Dodd (D)
Current job: U.S. senator from Connecticut
Local supporters: State Sen. John Lee chairs the steering committee. An endorsement list is forthcoming. Don’t expect a bunch of heavy-hitters; Clinton and Obama haven’t left many.
Celebrity endorsers: Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., Elizabeth Shue, Paul Simon, Boston Red Sox owner Tom Warner, Lorne Michaels, Oliver Stone, Mary Steenburgen, Ben Stiller.
Local headquarters: 2801 Valley View.
What the digs say about him: That he’s serious about Hispanic voters—and not interested in spending a whole lot of money on aesthetics. The volunteer who opens the door is of Hispanic descent. He says the neighborhood—just blocks from the Pennwood-Arville intersection—offers a perfect opportunity to make inroads in this growing political demographic.
As for the office, it’s condo-sized, functional, not much to look at. The trash can overflows with empty Vitamin Water and Gatorade bottles.
Where he’s been locally: Pahrump, UNLV for a Democratic candidates’ health-care forum.
Where he stands on ...
... medical leave: “The Family Medical Leave Act makes a difference. [It includes the] radical idea that you ought to be able to spend time with your child without having to lose your job.”
... detainee rights: Says the White House shouldn’t be able to interpret Geneva Conventions or use information obtained by torture.
Electability odds: Three reasons for pessimism—Clinton, Obama, Edwards.
John Edwards (D)
Past gigs: Trial lawyer; former U.S. senator from North Carolina
Current job: Presidential candidate
Local supporters: Assemblyman Richard Segerblom. A large coterie of citizens focused on anti-poverty efforts (united under the umbrella of One Corps).
Celebrity endorsers: List not published.
Local headquarters: 4160 S. Pecos Road, Suite 10.
What the digs say about him: Dismiss me at your own risk. Edwards’ offices, in a quiet, nondescript plaza on Pecos just south of Flamingo, are dead. Perhaps because it’s lunch time. The first office features row upon row of cubicles; nearly every computer has an Edwards screen saver. His quotes are taped to the walls. Bill Hyers, the campaign’s state director, takes over the rest of the tour. Is it normally this quiet? “No, everyone’s out to lunch. This place can get pretty busy,” he says.
Where he’s been locally: Various union visits (culinary, electrical workers, etc.), KLAV 1230-AM, UNLV for a Democratic candidates’ health-care forum.
Splitting hairs: How will his $400 haircuts play in rural Nevada?
Where he stands on ...
... poverty: Goal is to end it by 2036 by creating a “working society.”
... homeland security: Blast-proofing arenas and skyscrapers; improving security at chemical plants.
Vote that could haunt him: Supported the Amateur Sports Integrity Act. College betting constitutes one-third of all bets placed each year in Nevada sports books.
Electability odds: Nothing wrong with fighting the good fight—and losing.
Rudy Giuliani (R)
Past gig: 107th mayor of New York City
Current job: Chairman and CEO of Giuliani Partners
Local supporters: Rep. Jon Porter, State Sen. Majority Leader Bill Raggio, Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, Assemblyman James Settelmeyer.
Celebrity endorsers: Tony Sirico, Melissa Gilbert (The Waltons!).
Local headquarters: No office.
Suggested digs: At the foot of the Statue of Liberty replica at New York-New York.
Where he’s been locally: Target at Flamingo and Maryland (bought deodorant, lotion, a Remember the Titans DVD, Zone nutrition bars and a book by Elie Wiesel); private fundraiser.
Where he stands on ...
... Yucca: Spinning for the R-J, “One of the things you’ve got to be real careful about with nuclear power is you’ve got to make sure it’s really, really safe.”
Promise he can’t keep No. 1: “I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.”
Promise he can’t keep No. 2: “I will impose accountability on Washington.”
Electability odds: Prolific fundraising could be enough to usurp negatives (serial husband, pro-life).
Mike Huckabee (R)
Past gig: Governor of Arkansas
Current job: Author, presidential candidate
Local supporters: No list submitted.
Celebrity endorsers: No list submitted.
Backing that might not mean much: South Carolina NRA’s “defender of freedom”; supported by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.
Local headquarters: A staffer says the campaign is looking for an office.
Suggested digs: Go Raw Café. (See next entry.)
Best book title among the candidates: Quit Digging Your Grave With A Knife and Fork, his fourth book, presents a 12-step program to health.
Where he’s been locally: Still waiting for a visit.
Where he stands on ...
... Second Amendment: An absolutist.
... taxes: Would replace the Internal Revenue Code with a consumption tax on the wealthy. (Good luck with that one, Mikey.)
Electability odds: He’s no Bill Clinton, which means he won’t be president.
John McCain (R)
Past gigs: Naval officer (later commander, squadron commander, captain)
Current job: U.S. representative from Arizona
Local supporters: MGM Mirage CEO Terry Lanni, public relations guru Sig Rogich, county commissioner Bruce Woodbury.
Celebrity endorsers: Himself.
Local headquarters: No office.
Suggested digs: Nellis Air Force Base (symbolic) or the Union Pacific Railroad. Could use the line: “The Straight Talk Express is back on track.”
Controversy, where are you? At this point, if he did have a black child—as Bush’s hit squad alleged in the 2000 GOP nomination contest—it’d at least inspire interest in his race.
Where he’s been locally: MGM Grand (for a fundraiser),
Where he stands on ...
... boxing reform: Favors stringent rule changes to ensure fighters’ safety.
... nuclear energy: Thinks it’s key to limiting carbon emissions and reducing dependence on foreign supplies. In other words, hello Yucca!
Electability odds: Howard Dean redux?
Barack Obama (D)
Past gigs: Chicago community activist, former Illinois state senator
Current job: U.S. senator from Illinois
Local supporters: Billy Vassiliadis, Elaine Wynn, State Sen. Steven Horsford, Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, businesswoman and consultant Rose McKinney-James, Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson, Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Assemblyman Harvey Munford and former State Sen. Helen Foley.
Celebrity endorsers: Adam Arkin, Paul Dooley, Jodie Foster, Jamie Foxx, Bruce Hornsby, Cedric “The Entertainer” Kyles, Eriq La Salle, Paul Newman, Jean Smart, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Will Smith, Joanne Woodward.
Local headquarters: 3041 E. Flamingo Road, Suite A.
What the digs say about him: People like him, they really, really like him. First are the Obama ’08 stickers on the cars, followed by Obama ’08 shirts worn by staffers and volunteers and Obama ’08 buttons on the table. Everyone seems so cheery inside this gray, bank-building-like structure on Flamingo and McLeod. The lobby is actually a lobby, with three pink, low-to-the-ground couches. Back in the guts of the operation, a multicultural group of staffers and volunteers make calls, send e-mails and pound out memos. “We’ve got everything split,” says public-relations coordinator Jennifer Stutsman, “from the county, the region and the state. We’re working hard.” And having fun, too, it seems.
Where he’s been locally: Clark County Government Center, Culinary Union, Silverado High School, Rancho High, UNLV for a Democratic candidates’ health-care forum, private fundraisers.
Where he stands on ...
... jobs: CEOs get paid too much, workers too little.
... Yucca: Opposes it.
Electability odds: Can style beat substance? Can his message of hope convince northerners and rurals he’s real, flesh and bone and concerned about small-town Nevada? We’ll see.
Bill Richardson (D)
Past gigs: U.S. representative from New Mexico, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, energy secretary
Current job: Governor of New Mexico
Local supporters: Hispanics in Politics (the state’s oldest Hispanic political group) and the grassroots community organization Mi Familia Con Richardson.
Celebrity endorsers: Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, Paul Newman, Edward James Olmos, Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, Jodie Foster, Christie Brinkley, Bette Midler, William Friedkin and James L. Brooks.
Local headquarters: 515 South Seventh St.
What the digs say about him: You’d better take me seriously. “We have this house. Our volunteers work back here. We just rented this house. This used to be part of a public-relations firm. The firm occupied four houses. We have a lot of space,” says Josh McNeil, state communications director. Pulling up to the spot, you’d barely know.
Where he’s been locally: Downtown, Clark County Library, Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School, Teamsters Local 631 Hall, UNLV for a Democratic candidates’ health-care forum.
Where he stands on ...
... immigration: A big wall is not the answer. Legalize the 12 million undocumented workers in this country and go from there.
... water: Wants to create a Department of Water to address water issues and task it with the development of a national water policy.
Electability odds: Were the race given to the most seasoned, he’d be the frontrunner. But it’s not and he’s not—and won’t be able to overcome Clinton, Edwards and Obama.
Mitt Romney (R)
Past gig: Governor of Massachusetts
Current job: CEO Bain Capital, presidential candidate
Local supporters: Former Gov. Kenny Guinn, former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, Clark County Commissioner Chip Maxfield, North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon, former City Councilman and County Commissioner Jay Bingham.
Celebrity endorsers: No list submitted.
Local headquarters: No office.
Suggested digs: Mormon temple at the base of Sunrise Mountain. (He’s Mormon.) Plus, it’d make for a killer photo-op for the photogenic Romney.
Where he’s been locally: A private fundraiser in March; Elko.
Where he stands on ...
... ethics: Wants to strip pensions of public officials who violate rules.
... troop surge: Says it’s America’s best chance to right the course in Iraq.
Electability odds: Mormon ties and CEO experience make him a potent threat.
LONG-SHOT CANDIDATES WITH A BETTER CHANCE AT HITTING 756 HOME RUNS THAN WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE
Rep. Sam Brownback,
R-Kansas: Nursing a
brokeback campaign.
Mike Gravel: Consider it
a victory if people
pronounce his name
right—Gra-vel, not gravel.
Dennis Kucinich:
Do you believe
in Elfin magic?
Rep. Ron Paul,
R-Texas: Reagan
Republican =
unelectable Republican.
TO ENTER OR NOT TO ENTER: FENCE-SITTERS AND THEIR OBSTACLES
Michael Bloomberg
(New York City
Mayor): Ross
Perot redux?
Wesley Clark (retired
NATO commander): Military
chops? Good. Lack of charisma
and political experience? Bad.
Newt Gingrich (former
GOP brass): How long he
keeps clamps on that snarky
tongue determines how well he does.
Al Gore (former vice president,
eco-champion): Use-by date
rapidly approaching—and
may have past.
Chuck Hagel (no-nonsense
Nebraska senator): Dissing
President Bush does not
a campaign make.
George Pataki (former New
York governor): Contrary to
popular opinion, New York
is not a nation unto itself.
Al Sharpton (rights activist):
Too controversial, can’t raise
enough money to mount a
credible candidacy.
Fred Thompson (actor,
Tennessee senator): Three
campaign managers, and he
hasn’t even announced his intentions?