Las Vegas Review-Journal - The Political Eye

Television ads from the Committee to Protect Nevada Jobs could start airing as soon as tomorrow, consultant Dan Hart said Monday morning.

The committee is expected to seek to influence voters in Nevada's gubernatorial race, including the Republican primary between incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons, former federal judge Brian Sandoval and former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon.

Even though the ads haven't even aired yet, the committee is already under attack from Republicans who say it is a stalking horse for the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid.

Hart, a Democratic consultant who in the past has been adviser to Reid, said the committee's ads still aren't complete but should be on the air statewide as early as tomorrow.

"We're spending somewhere north of $100,000 a week," Hart said of the ad buy. "We're buying the channels and the programs where the voters are."

Republicans, particularly Sandoval's campaign, have cried foul over the formation of the political action committee, or PAC.

They cite campaign finance documents showing Reid has spent more than $600,000 from previous campaigns on Hart's consulting.

With polls showing Reid would have a better chance to win a general election over Gibbons than Sandoval, they say Hart is seeking to hurt Sandoval in the primary.

"The battle lines are clear – Team Reid and Team Gibbons together on one side and Sandoval on the other," an e-mail from Sandoval's campaign stated.

The Republican Governors Association is also attacking Hart's PAC.

"Rory Reid and this PAC are not permitted to coordinate, but given their history and Hart’s long-standing financial dependence on Rory, you’ve got to ask some questions,” Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for the Republican Governors Association said in a press release. “Hart is helping Rory’s campaign for governor by attacking Republicans, and we’re asked to believe that they suddenly don’t talk anymore? They should fully disclose any communications they’ve had since February."

Hart and a spokesman for Reid's campaign have said there is no coordination.

"We've been very careful about no overlap, no coordination or control," Hart said Monday.

"It is done independently of this campaign," Reid spokesman Mike Trask said when asked Friday about the group.

Sandoval ad update: Watch the anti-Sandoval ad

Here's a copy of the ad by the Committee to Protect Nevada Jobs that has Republicans and the gubernatorial campaign of Brian Sandoval so upset.

The ad, which will launch on statewide television tomorrow, criticizes Sandoval for his role in the 2003 court case Guinn v. Legislature.

The case resulted in a controversial decision by the Nevada Supreme Court that said the legislature could raise taxes to balance the budget without the required 2/3 majority.

It came after then-Gov. Kenny Guinn sued the legislature which had failed to pass a balanced budget and fund education as required by the constitution.

Sandoval, then the attorney general, argued the case on behalf of Guinn.

But he says he didn't advocate for a tax increase or an end-around of the 2/3 majority.

Sandoval's campaign has also complained that the ad is an attempt by Democrats to help incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons, a Republican, beat Sandoval in the primary.

Hart is a past adviser to Democratic candidate Rory Reid, who polls show would have better odds of winning the general election against Gibbons than Sandoval.

The ad in question:

Watch the video