An interesting announcement by Gov. Brian Sandoval in this morning's Reno paper
Gov. Brian Sandoval is seeking the advice of former Nevada governors and will appoint a Republican U.S. senator with "no learning curve and similar in political ideology to Sen. (John) Ensign," the governor's senior adviser said Monday.
The quote suddenly makes me wonder if Sandoval is setting up the field for appointing himself rather than current Republican Favorite Dean Heller.
Some speculation below the fold.
That quote struck me as a bit odd. I know Sandoval is not telegraphing what he wants to do, but reading that quote, I suddenly remembered a common thread between Sandoval and Ensign. Their campaign manager, Pete Ernaut, a very influential figure in Nevada Republican politics. Pete was the campaign manager for both Ensign's first Senatorial campaign and Sandoval's for AG before he was nominated to the Federal Bench. They all know each other, but as friends, Ernaut is the glue binding them together.
Politically, their political views are very much in line with each other. I don't believe Heller was really a member of that club, being much too interested in self promotion and race cars at the time of those campaigns.
I personally believe that it was mostly Ernaut who convinced Sandoval to give up his lifetime Federal appointment. What candy has he dangled in front of Sandoval's nose? Surely not just the Governor, not enough incentive. Senator???? perhaps. Or perhaps a potential shot at the next VP slot in 2016. Good Republican catch, Hispanic family man, well spoken (read no Spanish accent in his speech) and non-threating to the radical right. Perfect guy to try to recapture the shrinking demographic of Hispanic Republican voters.
What better place to have a jumping off point to the VP nomination than being a Senator?
If he does appoint himself, I think that there will be a backlash, but a survivable one. Appointing himself gets him out of his awkward budget promises (no taxes), and he'll give any Democrat a run for their money, he's already a current statewide winner, Heller is hardly known in Las Vegas, where he really needs to push up his name before the next election.
Topping on the Cake: It'll gall Harry Reid no end to have to work with the guy he tried to sweep off the table with a Federal Judgeship, who came back in to defeat his anointed son for Governor.
The other option is to run against the Reid Machine in 2016.
Who is the unnamed 'senior advisor' in the quote above? Pete???
What to choose????
Updated by NevDem at Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 04:09 PM PDT
I missed something, the Senior advisor is mentioned a bit later in the article. It's not 'Pete'. Mea Culpa