Las Vegas Oscar Goodman considering run against Sen. Jon Ensign

[MarkWarner08]

Reid: Las Vegas mayor discusses Senate bid
ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 03, 2006

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - The U.S. Senate's Democratic leader confirmed Tuesday that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has discussed with him the possibility of challenging Republican Sen. John Ensign this election year.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., added during a brief interview that the Democratic mayor is "a real vote-getter" and would be "a very, very strong candidate" if he entered the race. He noted Goodman got 86 percent of the vote in his last race.

"I'm happy to give him any advice or counsel that he needs or wants," Reid said. "I've known him for many, many years and will have to wait and see what he decides to do."

More here:http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/jan/03/010310016.html

Goodman is the only Democrat in the state of Nevada besides Harry Reid that can beat Ensign. If the Mayor of Las Vegas runs, Nevada instantly moves up in the close Senate race rankings.

While many prognosticators doubt Democrats have a chance to win the Senate, the odds are much higher than they seem. In 2000, all the close Senate races but Virginia broke in Democrats favor, in 2002 and 2004 nearly all of the close Senate races broke in the GOP's favor. This "tidal effect" is may occur in 2006.

If it does, Democrats will have opportunities in Missouri, Montana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island, Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee and, possibly, Mississippi. An astounding 9 out of 15 GOP Senate seats  could be vulnerable, while only 4 Democratic seats are weak. If you couple this with the $13 million DSCC advantage, Democrats could be looking  to Majority Leader Reid.

[Joe Republic]

Hmm, this race could suddenly get interesting.  The main problem that Goodman will face is the latent hostility that many northern Nevadans tend to feel towards Las Vegas.  I predict that he will struggle everywhere but in his own city.

[Adlai Stevenson]

Hmm, this race could suddenly get interesting.  The main problem that Goodman will face is the latent hostility that many northern Nevadans tend to feel towards Las Vegas.  I predict that he will struggle everywhere but in his own city.

Yes but surely Goodman would carry the populous Clark County in a landslide; Ensign won it in 2000. If Goodman considers entering the race, then Nevada could be a potentially close contest for 2006.

I am confused, however, I thought Reid and Ensign were friendly towards each other and it was always said that the former wouldn't countenance a hard campaign against the latter because of their bipartisan friendship.

Still, this looks to be good news. The Democrats have really done well in the recruitment process, unlike the GOP.  This is not an attack, merely an observation that the Republicans led by Dole are having a more difficult time than in the past in securing top-tier challengers.  Democrats led by Schumer appear to be recruiting several strong possibilities: Casey in Pennsylvania; McCaskill in Missouri; Ford, Jr. in Tennessee; and Hackett in Ohio. The only weakness is not getting Warner to challenge Allen in Virginia or perhaps Attorneys General Mike Hatch in Minnesota and Terry Goddard in Arizona.

[memphis]

More than 70% of people in Nevada live in Clark County. This one might be getting interesting.

[TheresNoMoney]

As long as he can retain his job as mayor if he loses, I think he should go for it.

Those unreliable Zogby online polls had Ensign up by something like 2% over Goodman.

[tarheel-leftist85]

He should run for gov. instead, even though he abuses the homeless and thus is a DINO.

[Virginian87]

Where does Goodman fall on the political spectrum?  Is he closer to moderate than liberal?  If he is, he might actually have a good chance against Ensign.

[Joe Republic]

He should run for gov. instead, even though he abuses the homeless and thus is a DINO.

What?

[opebo]

He should run for gov. instead, even though he abuses the homeless and thus is a DINO.

What?

I believe the tarheel is saying that this Goodman is too right-wing and anti-poor to fit his conception of a Democrat, Joe Republican.

[Gustaf]

Does he really have a chance? If so, then very good for the Democrats. Not good enough to win teh senate of course, but definitely improving the chances to win the senate a little further down the road.

And considering the fact that Reid becomes majority leader if teh Dems win the senate I don't think bipartisan friendship will be all that important...

[Joe Republic]

I believe the tarheel is saying that this Goodman is too right-wing and anti-poor to fit his conception of a Democrat, Joe Republican.

Well at least in your case, we know that there are probably about 6 people in the whole of the US who fit your conception of a Democrat.

[Galactic Overlord]

Hmm, this race could suddenly get interesting.  The main problem that Goodman will face is the latent hostility that many northern Nevadans tend to feel towards Las Vegas.  I predict that he will struggle everywhere but in his own city.

Yes but surely Goodman would carry the populous Clark County in a landslide; Ensign won it in 2000. If Goodman considers entering the race, then Nevada could be a potentially close contest for 2006.

I don't think it's possible for Goodman to carry Clark County, if he does, by a landslide.  Clark County also includes the fast growing suburbs as well as Las Vegas, which are more conservative than the city.  Bush actually improved his percentage in Clark County by a couple of percentage points in 2000 and 2004.  Governor Kenny Guinn won the county in both his elections.  And John Ensign used to represent the congressional district that included Clark County up until 1998.  Plus, I don't believe Ensign is particularly unpopular down there anyway.

[tarheel-leftist85]

I believe the tarheel is saying that this Goodman is too right-wing and anti-poor to fit his conception of a Democrat, Joe Republican.

Well at least in your case, we know that there are probably about 6 people in the whole of the US who fit your conception of a Democrat.

A majority of this country would like to see us treat our homeless as we would like to be treated...maybe not a private island, but a meal and vocational training would suffice.  60% may claim to be pro-choice, but not even half of those consider this their top issue.  America is a populist country--so long as the system functions properly (simple ballots that 80 year olds can discern).  I'm tired of the McMansion generation undoing all that our grandparents did.

[Moooooo]

Obviously, he's better than Jack Carter.  But lets get one thing straight, this guy is not exactly the strong 'ethical' character most people want serving them in the U.S. Senate.  He's a former mob attorney.

[Joe Republic]

Obviously, he's better than Jack Carter.  But lets get one thing straight, this guy is not exactly the strong 'ethical' character most people want serving them in the U.S. Senate.  He's a former mob attorney.

John Edwards was an ambulance chaser.  Nobody expects their politicians to be ethical.

[Moooooo]

Obviously, he's better than Jack Carter.  But lets get one thing straight, this guy is not exactly the strong 'ethical' character most people want serving them in the U.S. Senate.  He's a former mob attorney.

John Edwards was an ambulance chaser.  Nobody expects their politicians to be ethical.

True, but at the same time Edwards was able to spin his days as a trial lawyer into a "fight for the little man".  I have no idea how Goodman can spin his days as a mob mouthpiece into a positive thing.

[nini2287]

If Goodman is the nominee I say:

Ensign 53
Goodman 47

Wasn't there some mini-scandal a year or so ago involving Las Vegas (and Goodman) not doing enough to protect the casinos from terrorism?

[MissCatholic]

If Goodman is the nominee I say:

Ensign 53
Goodman 47

Wasn't there some mini-scandal a year or so ago involving Las Vegas (and Goodman) not doing enough to protect the casinos from terrorism?

thats about 15,000 votes so could be very interesting