Sandoval keeps double-digit lead

CARSON CITY -- Republican Brian Sandoval has maintained a double-digit lead over Democrat Rory Reid in the race for governor, although the gap between them has narrowed slightly, according to a poll conducted for the Review-Journal and KLAS-TV, Channel 8.

Sandoval holds a 47 percent to 36 percent lead over Reid in the poll of 625 likely voters. His 11 percentage point lead compares with a 14 percentage point margin he held in a similar poll in early June.

But Brad Coker, managing director for Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., which conducted the poll, said the fluctuation was insignificant and Sandoval remains a big favorite in the race.

Coker said he considers Reid a long shot because of his "unfavorable" numbers.

Besides polling Nevada voters on the race itself, pollsters asked them if they looked favorably or unfavorably on the two candidates.

Sandoval, a former federal judge and attorney general, received a 45 percent favorable, 19 percent unfavorable rating.

Reid, an attorney who is chairman of the Clark County Commission, had a 29 percent favorable, 38 percent unfavorable rating.

Those figures, which haven't changed significantly since a similar poll in June, do not bode well for Reid's chances in November, Coker said.

He said poll results show that Reid is not being helped, or receiving a positive "coattail effect," from his father, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., even though they will be on the same election ballot in November.

While the younger Reid is trailing his opponent, his father -- who is majority leader of the Senate -- holds a 7 percentage point lead over Republican challenger Sharron Angle.

"I never thought it a smart move for him to run with his father on the ballot," Coker said. "I have never seen an instance where when two relatives were on the ballot that both won."

Coker pointed to the 2006 Nevada primary where Jim Gibbons won the Republican race for governor, while his wife, Dawn, lost the primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

"Sandoval is the perfect candidate," Coker said. "He is not known as a right wing conservative. He is Hispanic."

The telephone poll, conducted Monday through Wednesday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Sandoval's only comment on the poll was: "We are encouraged by the reception we are getting across the state, but we are taking nothing for granted."

Another poll, conducted by Rasmussen Reports, was released Wednesday. It showed Sandoval with a 57 percent to 36 percent lead over Rory Reid.

Reid did not comment on the Review-Journal poll, but his spokesman, Mike Trask, said dozens of polls will be conducted between now and November and the only one that matters is the one done by voters on Election Day.

He noted that the first campaign finance report in the race shows that Reid had raised $2.6 million to Sandoval's $575,000, so Reid he will have funds to get his message across to voters.

"Polls at this moment are irrelevant," Trask said. "What matters is that we continue to do what we have been doing, traveling the state and talking to voters."

Reid has been discussing what he will do to improve education and rebuild the economy, the defining issues of the campaign, according to Trask. He's also been waiting for Sandoval to agree to debate, he added.

"Rory will debate him anytime, anywhere," Trask said.

Reid in recent days has been trying to draw Sandoval into a series of debates. Sandoval's campaign has said there will not be debates until this fall because the Republican candidate intends to concentrate on meeting people this summer.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.

Trending topics:

• Brian Sandoval
• Ed Vogel
• governor
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• Rory Reid

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. jw456 Jul. 17, 2010 | 9:43 p.m. Report Abuse

   odj--you're doing a good job! Thanks for expressing yourself so well and so forcefully.

2. odj Jul. 17, 2010 | 8:56 p.m. Report Abuse

   You know in the history of the world, can you name one forward thinking, marvelous, wonderful thing a conservative has done to advance the cause of the majority?
   narrow that down. can you name one piece of legislation put forth or proposed by the rightwing that worked in favor of the majority of citizens of our country?
   @hater you are appropriately labeled, and your wrong. I am not, as you might guess, a conservative. Something about narrow minded, hypocrites i can't stomach. Nor am I a party hack, as you put it, for democrats. Different wing of the same bird. My Grandfather, who was a dairy farmer, said "the only difference between democrats and republicans is democrats will leave a little for the working man". And he was right, most working class conservatives probably aren't intentionally evil, but they don't do a lot to over come it. When it comes to the lesser of the 2 evils I'll pick democrats, for now.
   Ever wonder why conservatives have taken civics out of our educational system? is there something they don't want other generations to know? like their rights, responsibilities, and the use of societal commons. Conservatives can only advance their agenda by lying and misleading, that alone should demonstrate for the voting public who has principles and who only has talking points.

3. bubba Jul. 17, 2010 | 7:36 p.m. Report Abuse

   I'd rather have Obummer as Governer than another Reid, and I hate Obummer.

4. Chandler_L Jul. 17, 2010 | 6:47 p.m. Report Abuse

   So now that Harry is whomping Scary Sharry, it's time to start kicking Rory Reid?
   
   Welcome to Shermie's Plan B.

5. Harry.the.Hater.Lives.in.the.Ritz Jul. 17, 2010 | 6:12 p.m. Report Abuse

   We get it Teresa, Vincenta, CB, Greg, and ODJ: You're tired partisan hacks who live in a magical but simple world where republicans are evil and democrats are good. I wish I could live in a dumbed-down world where things are that black and white. But sorry, things are more complex than that. Nevada is NOT a Hate Land! We're not going to tolerate Harry the Hater and his condescending racist remarks just because he's a democrat. Reid isn't welcome in Nevada any more. He's used up all his goodwill. We're tired and he's old. He's no longer effective. While Nevada suffers 14% unemployment, Harry the Hater literally lives in the Washington DC Ritz Carlton. It's pretty clear that Reid is out of touch with reality. This isn't Alabama, and it's not 1940. Step up to the plate and distance yourself from this racist senile nitwit and his twink incompetent son. In about two years, nobody's gonna remember who either Reid was. It's 2010 but Harry thinks like it's 1950 and Rory dresses like it's 1980. Enough!

6. Harry.the.Hater.Lives.in.the.Ritz Jul. 17, 2010 | 6:03 p.m. Report Abuse

   Under the close supervision and direction of Rory Reid, UMC has distinguished itself as the armpit of healthcare in Nevada. Now, he thinks his pathetic performance at UMC qualifies him to run the whole State. Unbelievable! It's an upside down logic that Rory undoubtedly learned at the racist knee of his hater father, Harry. Hit the road Rory. Harry the Hater is gonna need somebody to change his adult diaper when he vacates the Washington Ritz Carlton and moves back to Searchlight in about six months!

7. Teresa.Crawford Jul. 17, 2010 | 6:01 p.m. Report Abuse

   As Vicenta Montoya points out, Brian Sandoval is a serial quitter like Sarah Palin, abandoning elected and appointed positions to climb the next rung on the ladder. If elected as governor, would he quit midterm to run against Ensign in the Republican primary for US Senate? I hope someone asks him that in a public forum. Voters deserve to know whether he will serve a full term.

8. Vicenta.Montoya Jul. 17, 2010 | 5:42 p.m. Report Abuse

   Brian Sandoval where are you? Come out come out wherever you are. Brian LINO RINO Waffle Man Sandoval does a good disappearing act.Simply because he has a Spanish last name he expects Latinos to come out and vote for him. No thanks bud you are a LINO, Latino in Name Only. Rory Reid at least has made the effort to learn Spanish to be able to speak to the audience that Sandoval believes whose vote he should automatically get because of a last name. What have you done for us lately Sr. Waffle Man? You quit the Assembly, you quit the AG's Office , you quit the federal judiciary. When you were in those offices what did you did to EARN the Latino vote? You support SB 1070 the Arizona Law. You support vouchers which undermines education which pushes Latinos even further into an educational black hole. That relegates Latinos to less educational opportunities.
   
   Quit being a coward lets hear what you really stand for. You catered to the Tea Party folks now speak to the general public. I invite you and Rory to a debate in the heart of the barrio in NE Las Vegas. Aver Sr. Waffle Man si tiene suficiente valor.

9. C.B. Jul. 17, 2010 | 4:52 p.m. Report Abuse

   we need to get rid of all these god dammed republicans screwing the state and the country up...

10. Greg Jul. 17, 2010 | 3:23 p.m. Report Abuse

    RE: UMC and Rory Reid
    
    The problems at UMC, and the much broader problem-challenge of access to consistent quality healthcare delivery in Nevada, are much larger than one County Commissioner, Rory Reid.
    
    Mayor Oscar Goodman himself has stepped up publicly to push for more quality of life infrastructure in Las Vegas, certainly healthcare. Has he had help? Answer: Some.
    
    But Mayor Goodman has also had a lot of negative feedback, or "the money just isn't there."
    
    Yet, Nevadans see the money that is available being spent in other places, or churned out of state to business partners.
    
    Change comes from the public asking (demanding) the right questions, and voting accordingly.
    
    Maybe the LV Chamber of Commerce, which is pushing so hard with the national C of C WITH COLD HARD CASH to stop banking reforms in DC to stop the NATION OF CHEATS, can get involved in Southern Nevada quality of life investment.

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