LAXALTMAYHAVELEGUP AFTER SISOLAK’S PRIMARY
safety, abortion and other topics positions him awkwardly in a state that two years ago went for Hillary Clinton and approved a ballot measure for expanded background checks on firearms purchases. Laxalt, who spoke at a national NRA meeting in 2017, campaigned against the measure.
Laxalt didn’t sign on to a letter of state attorneys general in support of Dreamers — unlike Gov. Brian Sandoval, who added his name to a similar letter from a number of governors — and signed Nevada onto an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court defending a restrictive Texas abortion law without consulting with Sandoval.
Already, there’s an indication that the Sisolak-laxalt race will hinge on who’s seen as the more extreme candidate. After Sisolak’s win, the Laxalt camp issued a statement calling him a “fringe” politician.
But Laxalt’s presence on the ballot will no doubt energize immigration activists, gun-safety advocates and other progressive groups, which should work in Sisolak’s favor. If those organizations work as hard for Sisolak as they did in tipping Nevada to Clinton in 2016, he’ll get a huge boost.
This is a race where debates and other candidate events could be hugely influential, and Sisolak could have an edge in that respect.
Sisolak is believed to be far more comfortable than Laxalt in unscripted appearances and dealing with unfriendly or indifferent audiences — a perception Laxalt fed when he made a fuss about the rules for what was supposed to have been the only televised primary debate between Republican candidates. The debate was called off, leading to complaints that Laxalt derailed it despite being such a strong front-runner that he had little to lose.
Sisolak-giunchigliani had a certain Hillary-bernie feel to it, with Giunchigliani viewed as the more progressive candidate and Sisolak the one with more appeal to mainstream voters.
For Sisolak, a key to November will be whether Democrats unify in support of him.
Meanwhile, while it probably won’t happen, Laxalt should send a gift package to Giunchigliani. Thanks to her, he goes into the general election with a leg up.