Dear Republican U.S. Senate Candidates,

Nevada Voters

Former Nevada state assemblywoman Sharron Angle was the first to throw her hat in the ring and is a bona fide, card-carrying conservative. I contributed money to her campaign as soon as she filed. But it appears I was one of the only ones, because her campaign finance report shows she’s only raised $35,000 for the race. Folks, that’s not enough to win the GOP primary, let alone take on Reid’s expected $25 million warchest.

Angle’s recent email fundraising appeal nails the Senate majority leader for his support of Obamacare. “Now is the time to tell Harry Reid that he’s got it wrong,” Angle writes. “Once elected to the United States Senate, I can vote to represent you and the values we hold dear.”

Yes, we get it. And we agree. But how are you going to beat him with just $35,000? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Ditto Chuck Kozak.

Chuck who?

Exactly.

None of us in Nevada have ever heard of the guy.

Apparently he’s a recent transplant to Reno, a lawyer and a former college basketball player who our buddy Ray Hagar of the Reno Gazette-Journal informs me went by the name of “Chuck the Truck” while playing at the University of Idaho way back in the 1960s – which means he probably qualifies for the “cash for clunkers” program.

Oh, and “The Truck” has also hired a high-priced team of non-Nevada political consultants to come into Nevada and tell us why we Nevadans should elect this decidedly non-Nevadan, even by Nevada standards, to represent Nevada in Washington, DC.

To that end, Kozak’s high-priced out-of-state direct mail fundraising guru recently sent out a four-page cookie-cutter template letter – complete with those patented hand-written blue check marks, stars, underlines and “over please’s” – telling us how bad Harry Reid is.

Dude, I know you’re new to Nevada all, but….we get it.

What we DON’T know is (1) who you are, (2) why we should elect you rather than a Nevadan, and (3) how you expect to beat Reid in November 2010.

Indeed, out of four pages of standard-issue anti-Reid pabulum – “Democrat Harry Reid needs to go.” – here’s all we learned about this complete unknown: “As a conservative Republican Marine and former JAG attorney, I’m proud to be pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and anti-tax.”

Lovely. But so is Sharron Angle. And she’s a Nevadan. And she’s served in public office in Nevada. And she’s been working in the trenches training grassroots activists and building a stronger Republican Party.

So why should Nevada Republicans vote for Chuck Kozak instead of Sharron Angle? And if for some unknown reason they do, how will you then beat Harry Reid in the general. Inquiring minds wanna know.

And then there’s Johnny Chachas.

Who?

Exactly.

Although the man’s family reportedly hails from Ely, Mr. Chachas is a Wall Street banker who still lives in New York. Apparently he’s so confident of his superiority as a GOP candidate against Reid that he’s just gonna phone this one in. I mean, Reid’s so bad that it really isn’t necessary to live and campaign in Nevada to beat him, right?

In fact, so far the only scheduled campaign event that I know of for Mr. Chachas is a fundraising luncheon reception scheduled for Tuesday, August 18th.

In St. Paul, Minnesota.

Good grief.

Danny Tarkanian threw his hat in the ring yesterday.

At least he’s Nevadan whom Nevada Republicans have heard of. But that raises a completely different set of questions.

Nevada Republicans know Danny’s name because he has run for the state senate and lost and run for secretary of state and lost. So the question naturally arises that if he couldn’t win those two undercard races, how does he expect to win a main event match against Harry Reid? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Which brings me to Bill Parson.

Who?

Exactly.

Last week I published a list of candidates running against or thinking of running against Harry Reid and my projected odds of them getting into the race and winning the GOP nomination – which elicited this blistering email from one of my readers:

“Your list the other day did not include Bill Parson, who is also in the race against Reid. Do you seek to inform, or only manipulate? Manipulation in the form of information is called propaganda. . . . In my opinion we need to be supporting citizen legislators who are serious about stepping up and running for office, not just the political usual suspects. You talk the talk of a libertarian leaning conservative, so at least give those of our ilk that are walking the walk some press.”

Ah. This is what Barack Obama calls a “teachable moment.”

The primary reason Bill Parson didn’t make my list is because I’ve seen no indication that he’s a “serious” candidate. I’m sure he’s a credible conservative and probably even a strong libertarian-conservative such as myself. But if believing in the “right” things was all it took to get elected, there wouldn’t be any liberals in office today – other than maybe in San Francisco.

That ain’t the case.

As for giving “those of our ilk that are walking the walk some press,” let me explain why this, in campaign-speak, is called “earned media.” They call it that because it is incumbent upon the candidate to EARN media coverage. It is not automatic nor assumed. And to even have a shot at getting said earned media, the candidate, you know, has to at least inform those in the media that he or she is, you know, running and stuff.

But even that doesn’t guarantee media coverage, even from like-minded ilk. You need to be a credible candidate. And what sorts of things make you a credible candidate?

Well, after receiving an email from Mr. Parson’s campaign a few days ago, I responded by sending him a list of 14 questions on my mind which would help me determine if he was a serious, credible candidate or not. Here are the 14 questions:

1.) Why are you running?

2.) What are your qualifications?

3.) What campaign training programs have you attended?

4.) How many votes do you need to win?

5.) What’s your “game plan” for winning?

6.) What are you going to do differently from others who have run for this seat and lost?

7.) How much will your campaign cost?

8.) What will you spend the money on?

9.) How much have you raised so far?

10.) How much of your own money have you put into your campaign?

11.) How do you expect to raise the balance?

12.) Who is working on your campaign (manager, consultants, advisers, etc.)?

13.) Who is supporting your campaign (endorsements)?

14.) Are you going to campaign full time?

I’m still waiting for a response. And until I get one, I just can’t consider Mr. Parson a serious, credible candidate no matter how much I might agree with him philosophically.

Indeed, instead of wailing about how bad Harry Reid is in fundraising letters, emails, radio commercials, stump speeches, etc., it would behoove ALL Republicans vying to run against “Dingy Harry” next year to stash the stale political anti-Reid rhetoric for the time being and instead at least address those same, basic Sweet 16 questions I posed to Mr. Parson.

I mean, come on. My nine-year-old daughter Kristen would be a better vote in the United States Senate than Harry Reid, but….

Hey, wait a minute. I think I have an idea.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2009
Contact:
Chuck Muth – (202) 558-7162
Saul Anuzis – (517) 974-8242

New Anti-Reid PAC Launched
In-State Activist, Out-of-State Fundraiser Team Up
For Two-Fisted Effort to Knock Out Majority Leader

(Las Vegas, NV) – Former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis has teamed up with former Nevada Republican Party Executive Director Chuck Muth to form a federal political action committee (PAC) for the purpose of “daschling” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in next year’s Nevada U.S. Senate race. The new “Dump Reid PAC” will combine Muth’s in-state network of grassroots activists with Anuzis out-of-state fundraising network for a one-two punch designed to defeat Sen. Reid in the 2010 election.

“Only Nevadans can defeat Harry Reid next year,” said Muth, “but so many of Nevada’s citizens are so afraid of retribution by Reid should they contribute to a challenger candidate that the only way to raise enough money to counter his expected $25 million re-election war-chest is to ask for financial help from outside the state to fund an independent effort. That’s where Saul comes in.”

As a candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee earlier this year, Anuzis established a nationwide network of donors, both large and small. And he sees replacing the Senate Majority Leader in 2010 as a national priority.

“Harry Reid has merely been neglecting Nevada during his stint as Majority Leader,” Anuzis explains, “but he’s done serious harm to America while leading it down the wrong path during that same time. Not only will Nevada benefit tremendously by dumping Harry Reid, but so will the rest of the country.”

Both Muth and Anuzis believe that any of the major announced or rumored GOP challengers to Reid would have a shot at dethroning the Majority Leader in 2010. The Dump Reid PAC, however, isn’t expected to support any particular Republican candidate in next year’s primary, but will instead focus on communicating to all Nevadans the reasons to send the former amateur boxer from Searchlight to a lucrative lobbying gig on K Street with his old friend Tom Daschle.

The Dump Reid PAC intends to raise money for radio, TV, voter contact mail and an upgraded DumpReid.com website – complete with detailed opposition research on Reid, his failed policies, his conflicts of interest, his land deals, his suspicious wealth and his failure to protect the interests of Nevada while distracted by his national efforts to advance the far-left agenda of MoveOn.org and other liberal special interests.

“Dumping Harry Reid won’t be easy,” Anuzis and Muth agreed. “But nothing worthwhile in life ever is. This is worthwhile, and then some.”

Republican Party Chairman Sue Lowden (4-1): Like Rachel Alexandra (winner of this year’s Preakness), this filly has the full package. Longtime Nevadan, legislative experience, political experience, gaming experience, banking experience – and drinks her beer right from the bottle. Well-known and respected for her charitable work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Smart, good-looking, articulate, personable. In other words, everything Harry Reid ain’t. Plus, she could personally seed a campaign with at least six figures from the gate, if not seven – and she’d easily attract millions from out-of-state donors, large and small. But can she be persuaded to give up a rather comfortable life and throw her bonnet into this hell-hole of a race against The Undertaker?

State Sen. Mark Amodei (7-1): The personable state senator is reportedly waiting for Rep. Dean Heller to make up his mind about running against Reid before making up his own mind about running against Reid. If Heller declines to run, Amodei is rumored to be ready to jump in. But his lack of conservative legislative bona fides (he proposed a billion dollar-plus tax hike in 2003 which cost revered conservative state Sen. Ann O’Connell her seat after she agreed to co-sponsor it as a courtesy to her colleague), a suspect work ethic on the campaign trail, and lack of experience in tough races has many wondering if he could defeat either Angle or Lowden in a GOP primary, let alone Reid in the general.

Rep. Dean Heller (25-1): Was seriously looking at making this race in the spring, but those considerations likely went up in smoke with Sen. John Ensign’s press conference announcing he cheated on his wife with the wife of his best friend who also worked for him and for whom his mom and dad coughed up $96,000 worth of parting “gifts.” It’d be one thing to give up a safe congressional seat with Ensign being at least tacitly supportive; it’s another thing to take that risk with Ensign as an albatross around your neck. The smart money says Heller stays right where he is.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (50-1): Even if the Nevada Supreme Court rules later this month that Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto is conflicted and can’t prosecute the lieutenant governor over trumped-up charges that he misused U-Promise scholarship funds, an independent pit-bull special prosecutor has already been lined up and is highly unlikely to resolve this case in time for Krolicki to be a viable Reid challenger even if he’s cleared.

John Chachas (100-1): While his family might be from Ely, no indication that the Wall Street banker has made the move from New York to Nevada yet. But at least he’s indicated a desire to help rebuild the Nevada Republican Party – which is already more than Sen. John Ensign and Gov. Jim Gibbons have done.

Chuck Kozak (500-1): This complete unknown’s Nevada GOP debut went over like a lead balloon. A recent transplant to the Reno area, Kozak devoted most of his campaign stump speech at the Nevada Republican Central Committee meeting on July 13th in Las Vegas rattling off the names of all the paid consultants he’s hired for his campaign – none of whom were from Nevada. Not exactly a Dale Carnegie way to endear yourself to the locals.

“…I’ve got to ask you, folks, just what has this man done for Nevada? This is a serious question. We’re represented by the Senate majority leader, formerly the Senate minority leader and before that the Senate minority whip.

“Democratic senators and congressmen are famous for, among other things, bringing home the bacon. With a powerful senator in Washington representing little old us, we should have all kinds projects in Nevada, given the clout we should have. U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who’s still there in his 90s, brought a lot of projects to West Virginia.

“LBJ, before he was president, was another Senate majority leader and, by coincidence, a lot of highways, dams and NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center got built in Texas. One of the first words ever spoken on the moon was Houston,’ as in ‘Houston, we’ve got a problem.’

“With Harry Reid, we should have all kinds of goodies to show for our representation. Let’s look at a few examples of traditional government largesse.

“The Las Vegas Beltway might have been built by Uncle Sam as I-215, not by Clark County, or maybe we might have had a second or even a third beltway to alleviate congestion. Maybe those toll lanes proposed on I-15 might have been free and been built, or maybe the new Hoover Dam bridge might have had a freeway leading to its approaches instead of the old two-lane US 93 through Boulder City, which will be a lot of fun to drive when the bridge opens.

“Between former presidential candidate John McCain on one side of the chasm and Harry Reid on the other and all that political power, you’d think there would have been a freeway to Kingman or maybe even Phoenix, let alone a freeway around Boulder City.

“What about the environment? Harry’s always talking about how green he is, shutting down new power plants, trying to get cap-and trade-through so our utility bills will stay nice and affordable, right?

“You’d think there would have been some kind of solar energy project on the scale of past Nevada projects like Hoover Dam, Nellis, the wartime plants in Henderson, something to show off one of our abundant natural resources, and fight our dependence on foreign oil as we’re constantly told we need to do.

“Or our two universities, Nevada and UNLV, should have had research parks, or something sponsored by Washington like other state universities around the country to pursue alternative energy and the like.

“How about health? Take UMC. Around the country, a lot of university medical centers are involved in various cutting-edge research projects, like building cancer centers, for example, like Kansas is doing; other states have specialized research they’re doing. Do we associate UMC with life-saving medical research or horror stories?

“Water’s another challenge facing Las Vegas. In times past, politicians with a lot of clout got projects like the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Central Arizona Project, Central Utah Project and many others built over the years. Have we seen a Southern Nevada Project to build the water lines to the north? Or get water released from Lake Powell to keep Lake Mead’s water level full or at least up above crisis levels? Powerful senators in the past were able to horse trade and do things like this.

“Finally, there’s the train. With all this power and influence, you would think the Amtrak Desert Wind that went by the wayside in 1995 would have been restored, maybe even with a couple of companion trains to cut down on I-15 traffic, which had become the second busiest highway in the country behind the East Coast’s I-95.

“I know the talk has been about high-speed rail, but you have to walk before you can run, and a standard train to California beats the Greyhound or having to go by air on a short trip. A train to L.A. and San Diego would have been nice and I would have ridden it. Did we get practical transportation, or the promise of a high speed, high tech train to.…Victorville? Like the approach to the Hoover Dam Bridge, we come up short.

“Now I realize our illustrious senator couldn’t do all these things, but maybe he could have done some of them or even a couple of them.

“And again, I don’t support the man or vote for him, but my point wasn’t to rag on the guy, just to show that for all this clout and power, it’s my opinion that Nevada doesn’t have a whole lot to show for it, and I remember other Senate majority leaders and other powerful senators in the past managed to bring a lot of money home for their constituents. You see their names on things, like McCarran Airport for example.

“Look at Nevada’s history – or the history of your home state – and see the projects that were built and then take a look around and see how Harry Reid stacks up, given all his power. And then think of all those checks in last week’s article and ponder whether Nevada will be benefiting – or just Harry and the Reids.

“Speaking of writing checks, back when AIG, the banks, General Motors, and Chrysler were getting their bailouts, as CityCenter was twisting in the wind and Echelon and later Fontainebleau were suspending construction, I thought, what about these guys and their employees? Where was a bailout for Nevadans? Was their senator fighting for them?

“Harry, the war is lost. I think it’s time for a new crop of leaders.”

Now, I’m personally opposed to pork, earmarks, TARP, stimulus and cash-for-clunkers, but this guy Kostner makes an excellent point. If Harry Reid’s position of power is so great for Nevada, why are we hurting so badly these days and have so little to show for it?

As I watched this incredibly misleading and boastful performance – declaring victory while the economy continues to drag and major companies continue to go BK – I realized that something was missing from the huge backdrop behind them.

A “Mission Accomplished” sign.

Maybe somebody could photo-shop one in for them.

Meanwhile he National Republican Senatorial Committee has produced a new TV commercial highlighting the event. Catch it HERE

And here’s a great point made by one of the folks who attended our SRO workshop on blogging and the Internet last night:

Why did Barack Obama do that press conference on solar panels at Nellis Air Force Base yesterday when he could have read the same remarks from a tele-prompter from the Oval Office in Washington, DC?

Because unless he conducted some kind of “official” presidential business while hob-nobbing with the Hollywood elite and raising bucket-loads of cash for Reid, Reid would have had to pick up the cost for the president’s secret service protection and cross-country flight on Air Force One. If not for the “official” Nellis event – which allowed the president to charge us taxpayers for this fundraising trip – Reid might have actually LOST money.

Some enterprising blogger ought to file a FOIA request and see just how much Harry Reid’s Vegas party cost the American taxpayers.

That said, if President Obama was coming to Nevada to conduct “official” business and talk about energy issues, maybe he should have taken a tour of Yucca Mountain instead of wandering around a bunch of solar panels. I’m told he’s never been there.

I mean, how can the president make decisions on such a critical national energy matter without ever even seeing the place? Do you mean to tell me he’s taking Harry Reid’s word for it? Which means he’s choosing politics over science? Say it ain’t so, Joe.

John Chachas (3-1): Meeting with and impressing GOP brass in Nevada and DC. Deep family roots/name ID in Ely. Has seed money to buy credibility which begets more money. But would have to overcome the “carpet-bagger” label as he and family now reside in New York.

Dean Heller (4-1): The conservative congressman would be the strongest challenger the GOP could put on the track. But is he willing to make the run? Word on the street is that the answer has moved in recent weeks from “no” to “maybe.” A grassroots draft push could push him to enter the field – which likely would clear the field.

Sue Lowden (7-1): GOP chief would likely only enter the race if no credible alternatives came forward. Now that a number have, she can stop sweating. At least for now.

Brian Krolicki (10-1): Still has interest, fire in the belly and maybe the ability to tap into McCain/Romney money circles – but not as long as indictment hangs over his head. The longer the case remains unresolved, the less likely the likable lieutenant governor makes the race, let alone wins the roses.

Greg Brower (15-1): Failure to post at any of the rural Lincoln Day dinners, even as just a guest, indicates a less-than-enthusiastic interest in the race.

Mark Amodei (20-1): Has expressed some interest but not a fire in the belly or financial resources. A constitutional office bid, maybe attorney general, is more likely for the well-liked but term-limited state senator.

Dema Guinn (1,000-1): I’m just putting the former First Lady’s name in here to see if she’s still reading my newsletters from her winter vacation casa on the beach in California. Dema, call me. I need some interior decorating help!

My intentions “today.”

Which in political-speak means he’s absolutely, positively, seriously looking at the Reid race.

Indeed, word out of DC is that Sen. John Cornyn and the National Republican Senatorial Committee are lobbying Heller hard to make the run. And why not? He’s the strongest, most credible candidate the GOP could possibly put up against the Senate Majority Leader. Heller’s the real deal and the full package: Fiscally conservative, telegenic, experienced and able to raise the money needed to be competitive.

Make no mistake: The best chance to “daschle” Harry Reid in Nevada next year is for Dean Heller to be the GOP’s candidate.

Of course, conservative former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle has already announced that she’s formed an exploratory committee for the Reid race. However, an Angle run against Reid would be a decidedly long-shot, uphill battle.

On the other hand, were Heller to jump into the Reid race, Angle would almost certainly become the immediate front-runner to replace Heller in the conservative 2nd congressional district – which includes all of Nevada except most of urban Las Vegas. After all, she came in a close second to Heller in the GOP primary for that seat in 2006.

Heller for Senate. Angle for CD 2.

Now if only former GOP state Sen. Joe Heck could be persuaded to run against Rep. Dina Titus in CD 3 instead of governor and leave that race to North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon – as well as persuade Jim Gibbons to forget about re-election and leave politics altogether in 2010 – Republicans (and conservatives!) might actually have something going here.

And to take the thought a little further down the line: If Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki would run for re-election; and if term-limited state Sen. Mark Amodei would run for Attorney General; and if banking executive and Nevada GOP boss Sue Lowden ran for Treasurer; and if state Sen. Barbara Cegavske ran for Secretary of State; and if former state Sen. Bob Beers ran for Controller – Republicans (and conservatives!) would pretty much have themselves a “Dream Team” for 2010.

But it all starts with Heller challenging Reid.

Anyone ready to start a Draft Dean movement?

Tell me again why Harry Reid’s “clout” as the Senate Majority Leader is so important to Nevada?

No kidding.

This is like Tom Hagen pledging The Godfather’s “undying friendship” if Jack Woltz would just “grant us a small favor” and give Johnny Fontaine that part in his new war film. I can just hear Mr. Kerkorian’s closing pitch at the end of these calls: “Sen. Reid never asks a second favor after he’s been refused the first. Understood?”

Blogger Steve Friess also immediately picked up on what he described as “something that seems like it could be an enormous scandal and right-wing outrage if true.”

“Um, wow,” Friess wrote on his blog. “The nation’s most powerful legislator is ringing up investment houses big enough to pony up $1.2 billion and pleading with them to save a massive Strip casino development? Really? Does that sound sane to you? . . . Such phone calls would seem to be laden in all sorts of ethical and political minefields.”

No kidding.

So Friess contacted MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman to see if the story was true. Feldman responded that it wasn’t exactly as the Review-Journal reporter reported it.

“We, and hundreds of other businesses around the country, have tried to use any possible (sic) avenue to get banks lending again, including asking politicians to weigh in,” Feldman advised Friess in a text message. “They’re not being asked to involve themselves in any of the detail, just to emphasize the larger public interests at play in making loans and getting the flow of credit started.”

Feldman denied that Reid had called any bank asking it to give MGM Mirage, or any other gaming company, a loan.

But as it turns out, it appears Mr. Feldman was shading the truth just a tad. In a statement from Reid’s spokesman, Jon Summers, to Friess on Monday morning, we found out that “Senator Reid has simply been asking banks to take a fair look at MGM’s CityCenter project to ensure that sound banking analysis is driving credit decisions, not irrational temerity over what is sometimes portrayed as a controversial industry.”

So Sen. Reid hasn’t been – wink, wink – asking banks to give a loan to MGM Mirage, only to – hint, hint – “take a fair look” at MGM Mirage’s loan request.

“You’re gonna have some union problems. My client could make them disappear. Also, one of your top stars has just moved from marijuana to heroin.”

Friess followed up with Sommers and the following exchange took place:

Friess: Your statement does not deny that Reid has called banks on MGM Mirage’s behalf.

Summers: Right, but he has not been raising money.

Friess: I’m trying to decipher the difference. Reid has called banks and said, say, “Hey, please take an honest look at whether this is a good company and project to loan money to? Don’t just say no out of hand?” Something like that?

Summers: Exactly. He wanted to make sure that a potential loan would be given serious consideration. The loss of this many more jobs would be devastating.

Friess: Do you think making such a call would make the banks feel pressured because it’s coming from Sen. Reid?

Summers: Again, he didn’t call and say, “Loan them this money.” He wanted to make sure that the company got a fair review. Those are two different things. Do we all hope that a fair review would result in an outcome that would preserve the jobs? Yes. But there is still a difference.

No there isn’t. That’s pure butt-covering political spin. As Friess concluded in his blog: ”The thing I wonder is, if I’m a bank and Sen. Reid is on the line saying, ‘Take a REALLY good look at this one,’ do I feel implicit pressure? Is there any way for Sen. Reid to be involved in such an effort and not have the weight of his position come to bear?”

The answer, of course, is yes…you absolutely feel implicit pressure. And yes, the weight of Reid position as the second most powerful man in the United States government absolutely comes to bear.

Friess isn’t the only one suspecting that Reid’s reported behavior here appears inappropriate. Jon Ralston is weighing in, as well.

“That struck me as quite strange,” Ralston wrote in Flash Monday morning. “Reid calling banks to try to raise money for a major business/political player. Is that appropriate? Is he making other calls? Is he helping the little old lady in the mobile park with her banker, too?”

Ralston also wrote, tongue planted firmly in cheek, how he thought such a phone call might go:

Reid to Major Banker: “Hello, Major Banker. Please give MGM MIRAGE a fair shake. Just because they are into gambling, don’t hold out your $1.2 billion. You used to love gambling companies.”

Major Banker to Reid: “Thanks for your interest, Mr. Majority Leader. I am sure I will be able to simply ignore this light-handed request from a powerful pol. I won’t worry about the company’s debt or stock price anymore. By the way, are you up for re-election next year?”

Later, Ralston and MGM spokesman Feldman exchanged a few emails on this matter, with Feldman spinning the calls as “protecting jobs.” Ralston asked Feldman is Sen. Reid was making these sorts of calls for anyone else. “Just MGM,” Feldman replied. “There’s a reason for that. If the (CityCenter) project doesn’t get funding and construction stops, there are 10,000 people who would lose their jobs.”

“But is it appropriate for the most powerful legislator in DC to apply pressure, subtle or otherwise, on private institutions to influence their lending decisions?” Ralston asks. “It’s one thing to call a news conference to say, ‘My home industry is hurting and I hope banks will be fair.’ It’s quite another to call and ask them to be fair. Isn’t it? I sense this is just the beginning of a story that got an innocuous start in a business column.”

And oh, how right he was. Another shoe dropped Monday afternoon when it was revealed that Nevada’s junior senator, John Ensign, also made such inappropriate calls to banks on behalf of MGM Mirage. That revelation came with this statement from MGM’s Feldman:

“Wouldn’t you also be outraged if a Senator DIDN’T stand up for the largest employer/taxpayer in his/her state and try to inquire about what issues stand in the way of financing the largest investment in US history and the largest job-creator in the nation? What Senator wouldn’t do that? Our two certainly did. . . . (A) politician calling on a bank to get funds moving again seems the right and appropriate action, not something deserving of scorn.”

No, it deserves scorn. And probably a federal investigation.

That neither Feldman, Reid nor Ensign see what’s wrong in having very powerful politicians calling banks on behalf of a private company and pressuring the banks, either implicitly or explicitly, to take a “fair” look at the company’s loan request says a lot about the ethical values these folks possess these days.

This whole thing stinks like yesterday’s diapers. And I suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’d like to know EXACTLY who Reid and Ensign called and EXACTLY what was said on those calls. And I’d also like to know if either Reid or Ensign or their immediate family members own MGM Mirage stock?

By the way, are there any other Nevada businessmen out there who would like Reid and Ensign to call your bank about a loan for your business? Or are you all good to go?

That said, Brower would still have his work cut out for him should he entertain jumping into this race. Highly regarded by the GOP establishment, he’s also known as a moderate “Raggio Republican,” which might not sit well with the GOP’s grassroots once this tax-hiking session of the Legislature is finally behind us.

In addition, many question Brower’s political work ethic. They cite his decidedly lackluster campaign for re-election to the state Assembly in 2002 when an underfunded conservative, Sharron Angle, pulled a surprising upset. There’s simply no chance of knocking off Reid by phoning it in.

Still, with the only announced GOP candidate, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, currently under indictment, the field is wide open for Brower should he decide to stick his toes in the water.

And with that, let’s take an updated look at the field of potential GOP candidates and the odds of them getting into the race and snatching the Republican nomination for the right to square off against the Senate Majority Leader next year…

Brian Krolicki (2-1): His defense is assuring folks he’ll be cleared of the politically-motivated trumped-up charges against him by the state’s Democrat attorney general. The question is when the case will be settled. The AG has every political reason to drag it out. And even if settled tomorrow, the D’s will make “Indicted” the lieutenant governor’s middle name from this point forward.

Greg Brower (3-1): Putting feelers out. Politically ambitious. Strong northern Nevada base. But does he have the fire in the belly?

Sue Lowden (4-1): Ready, willing and able to back any credible Republican challenger Problem is no such credible challenger has come forwarded yet. State GOP chief might be the best hope of giving Reid enough of a run for his money to stave off another top-to-bottom electoral disaster for Republicans in 2010.

Randolph Townsend (5-1): Term-limits force state senator to look for a new arena to play in. Experienced and well-connected to the lobbying community in both north and south. But liberal voting record over many years in the Legislature could be problematic in a contested GOP primary against a conservative alternative.

Bill Manders (8-1): Conservative Reno radio talk-show host has a following, but would lose his most powerful bullhorn the minute he officially became a candidate. Also would need to devote time and money becoming as well known in the populated south as he is in the north. But in head-to-head policy debates with Reid, he’d drive the incumbent nuts.

Sharon Angle (10-1): The social conservative leader has been extremely active in organizing and training grassroots activists since her narrow defeat against Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio last summer. Is she building this army for a statewide race, or laying the groundwork to replace Rep. Dean Heller should he decide to run for something else in 2010?

Bruce James (15-1): Government experience; private industry success. Certainly not afraid of a fight. Doing yeoman’s work on the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission. But can he persuade family to undergo the brutally negative campaign he’d inevitably face?

Dean Heller (25-1): GOP nomination is there for the asking, but conservative congressman is said to have his eyes on the governor’s prize if Gibbons elects not to run for re-election. And maybe even if he does.

Joe Heck (35-1): Word on the street is that the former state senator has all but decided on a gubernatorial run, but that could change if Heller opts to seek the same seat.

John Chachas (50-1): Definite interest, but no name ID and no actual residence in the state. Ownership of some land in Ely doesn’t qualify, even in this immigrant state.

Jon Porter (1,000-1): Did what so many former members of Congress do…cashed out and became a high-priced lobbyist. Which pretty much takes him out of the running.