BEERS CLOSES IN
The more voters learn about Jim Gibbons, the more they support Bob Beers for governor
BY MIKE ZIGLER

A poll conducted by national pollster Peter Hart placed the race for governor in a dead heat as of the close of July, with only 8 points separating Bob Beers from Jim Gibbons. Compared to the poll taken by Hart in March, Gibbons is clearly in trouble and Beers could easily win if his supporters step up their support.

Eight points in a primary is a dead heat; a 20-point drop is unheard of, especially if you have a deep television buy like Gibbons does. The Peter Hart poll shows Beers has moved up another 2 points in one week! Two points per week means Beers can capture the Republican nomination by time polls close Aug. 15.

There are several signs of desperation in the Gibbons cartel while their numbers continue to plummet. Just one of them: Gibbons campaign advisor Sig Rogich has suddenly reappeared to calm Gibbons' defecting supporters, but even he remains flustered, telling the Associated Press that 10 points is still a landslide, even when Gibbons doesn't have a 10-point lead.

Beers supports tax and spending controls, tax cuts and surplus refunds. Gibbons opposes them. Beers has plans for the transportation shortfall, to save rural Nevada's water supply (while increasing water in southern Nevada), and improve our state's education. Gibbons does not. Maybe the voters can hear why on Aug. 4, the date of the first of two scheduled debates among Republican candidates. So far, Gibbons' silence has clearly affected his position in the polls.

Gibbons supports un-Republican policies like collective bargaining for government unions and the Las Vegas Culinary Union's plot to increase minimum wage beyond federal standards and then tie it to inflation. Beers is steadfast in his Republican principles, noting that collective bargaining means non-merit wage increases for government employees who are already among the best paid in the nation.

The difference is clear. Beers has new ideas, bold plans and proven budget experience to properly lead Nevada. More and more, as people learn the truth about Gibbons, he is proving to be a failed congressman who is willing to resort to anything in order to serve his special interest bosses. In fact, the Gibbons cartel has resorted to lies in recent weeks,.

As unlikely as it seems, Rogich told the Associated Press that Gibbons "wasn't thinking" when he conveyed his tale of how he extorted a job from Delta Air Lines. Gibbons seems to be ethically challenged. Whether Gibbons truly extorted a job from Delta Air Lines or was instead lying about extorting a job from Delta, boasting about it clearly demonstrates he is someone who lacks the independent judgment to hold office.

Worse, perhaps out of desperation or maybe just an indication of his character, Gibbons and his team have crafted several disingenuous plots over the last few days. Related to Delta, Rogich and Gibbons lied when they said Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio defended Gibbons and called Beers' extortion accusation false. Beers personally called Raggio and learned that Beers' name never came up in the conversation between Raggio and Rogich.

In sum, Gibbons either extorted or lied, tried to cover up his unethical behavior by lying again, and then attempted to frame Beers for making a false accusation with yet another lie.

This is very similar to another incident last month. After we called Gibbons on falsely claiming an NRA endorsement, the Gibbons team attempted to bury the evidence and then solicit a Carson City columnist to bash Beers for making false accusations. The columnist apologized to Beers after Beers produced evidence that Gibbons did in fact claim the endorsement.

Usually, when someone pursuing public office makes a mistake or is caught in a lie, they either admit it and apologize or attempt to cover it up. Never before have we ever seen anyone stoop so low as to lie, be caught in a lie and then scheme to blame their opponent for what they did. 

Nevada needs honest, ethical and consistent leadership from the only candidate who listens to voters. LW