Rory Reid did his best to deliver a death blow to Republican Brian Sandoval in tonight’s gubernatorial debate, but the former federal judge defended and countered very well and will likely ride his white horse to victory next Tuesday.
At the outset of the sparring match, Rory waved blank sheets of paper in the air to represent Brian Sandoval’s lack of a budget plan for the state. “Brian, I think you should be embarrassed by that,” said Reid.
Sandoval responded by saying the election is about who the voters trust more and reiterated that he will oppose the federal health care law as well as tax increases.
Reid also questioned Sandoval’s job-jumping as he climbed the political ladder — from state legislator to state attorney general to federal judge — and called him the “biggest quitter in Nevada history.” Reid asked Sandoval if he is being motivated by ambition or something else.
Sandoval said the easier thing would have been to stay on the federal bench, and then turned to Reid and indignantly said, “It was a privilege to be recommended by your father to the federal bunch…and he never questioned my integrity.”
“I never questioned your integrity; I questioned your commitment,” replied Reid, going on to ask whether Sandoval perhaps has designs on some other, future political office once he is elected governor. Rumors and speculation have made their way through political circles that Sandoval might run for a presently weakened Senator Ensign’s seat or even be a possible future vice-presidential candidate.
Sandoval said he left a lifetime appointment to the federal bench because he cares about the state.
Sandoval did not roll out a detailed budget plan during the debate as some had expected he would, but he did say the state should return to 2007 state spending levels.
Reid repeatedly criticized Sandoval for not having a detailed, formal budget plan, and said he wished Sandoval would present one so they could have “a real debate” about numbers. Reid again questioned his opponent’s commitment based on Sandoval’s unkept promise to present voters with a budget plan.
Sandoval said he waited to propose a budget because he was waiting to receive all the information he needed.
Perhaps so. Sandoval also has not needed to produce a plan (or say much at all) because he has led Reid by double digits all campaign season.