Rory Reid may have to dream up some additional stunts if he hopes to gain any traction in the Nevada governor’s race. A new Mason-Dixon poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal/8NewsNow shows Reid trailing Republican Brian Sandoval by 16 points. A poll two weeks ago showed Sandoval with a 19-point advantage.

Sandoval, a Republican Hispanic and former state attorney general who gave up a lifetime appointment to the federal bench to run for governor, was seen favorably by 48 percent and chosen by 52 percent of respondents. Reid, current chairman of the Clark County Commission, was seen favorably by just 29 percent and was chosen by 36 percent.

Generally an analysis of Nevada’s electorate includes mention of the need for candidates to win the hearts and minds of independent voters, but Reid has a popularity problem even within his own party. He earns just 66 percent support from Democrats while 21 percent say they prefer Sandoval.

Among GOP voters Sandoval earns a whopping 86 percent support compared to just 5 percent for Reid. In addition, Sandoval leads Reid 48 percent to 41 percent in Clark County, the most populous county in the state as well as Reid’s political backyard. If Reid cannot win there, he cannot win the election.

Reid has been consistently tacking to the right on fiscal issues including a promise to balance the state budget and improve education without raising taxes. His policy positions would likely appeal to many independents and even some moderate Republicans if they were not nearly identical to those of Sandoval–and if voters believed Reid really meant it.