Good morning, everyone. Today marks the launch of the Morning Flash, an AM missive from your favorite Flasher that will jumpstart your day. Let me know what you think. Suggestions welcome.
So what do we have today, a day after Gov. Brian Sandoval and Sen. Dean Heller sent a temblor through the political world by boldly endorsing Mitt Romney and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman gave her first State of the City that appeared to last longer than a Harry Reid reading of “The Camp That Didn’t Fail” on the Senate floor:
FLOTUS TO VEGAS – A Democratic source tells me that Michelle Obama will be in Las Vegas on May 1, headlining a fundraiser at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Tickets start at $2,500 per person and will benefit the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee.
COMING UP TODAY: Rep. Shelley Berkley brings her “I love veterans more than Dean Heller” tour to Reno, where she will appear this morning in Reno. Berkley prides herself on her record with vets and is touring the state to try to solidify that coalition. Her “Prioritize Veterans Tour” already has made stops in the South. We hope to let you know how it goes tonight on “Face to Face.”
ANYTHING OSCAR CAN DO I CAN DO LONGER: Mayor Carolyn Goodman went on for close to 90 minutes (!) last night at the gleaming new City Hall, giving a laundry list of accomplishments the Family Goodman has brought to Sin City. She was just like her husband, without the showgirls and panache, but with hints about an NBA team on its way (if only) and minimal mention of the worst economy in the country. It’s always morning in Las Vegas
ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE: My colleague, J. Patrick Coolican, stands up for the casinos. Really? Well, sort of
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: You don’t need to hire a mind reader to predict this would happen.
FIRING AWAY AT CADISH: So would you think something called AmmoLand would be happy with the controversy over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s choice for the federal bench, Elissa Cadish? Expect more of this
And a “newspaper” says give Cadish her day before the Senate Judiciary Committee to face questions about her 2nd Amendment position. Oh, I bet they would love that.
WE’RE NO. 2! Nevada fell behind Arizona in foreclosures, but it’s not the good news it seems. Remember lawmakers passed that bill to artificially slow down foreclosures, which has been criticized as creating the illusion of improvement. But the headline was nice.
WHEN DO BILLIONAIRES FALL IN LOVE WITH MERE MILLIONAIRES? Sheldon Adelson opened a new resort in Macau on Wednesday and his company’s stock crested $60 a share, which eases the pain of his terrible $16.5 million investment in a risky business called Newt Gingrich Inc. So when will Gondolier Numero Uno jump on the Romney gondola? Only a matter of time because Adelson still wants to win the future.
SANDOVAL IS ONLY THIRD-TIER? Larry Sabato may be generous in putting Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval that high in the veepstakes in his latest assessment. As Portmanmania grows, it’s worth pointing out – again – that Sandoval will not be picked because A. He’s pro-choice B. He really, really doesn’t want the job. C. His late endorsement of Romney shows how tepid his support of the inevitable nominee really is. Ain’t gonna happen.
THE LEGACY OF STUPIDITY: It wasn’t enough that he compromised the paper’s integrity by an all-out crusade to destroy Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but the defrocked publisher of a local “newspaper” also saddled his successors with a huge debt
FACE TO FACE: Last night, I chatted with Smith Center founder Don Snyder about the status of downtown redevelopment one year into Goodman II. I also called out three Democrats – Senate hopeful Shelley Berkley and congressional aspirants Steven Horsford and John Oceguera for dodging the program. Berkley hasn’t been on in more than a year! It made me want to vent my spleen – or was it a kidney?
See it here
Tonight we let the Southern Nevada Health District explain why it shut down a so-called fork-to-farm event in Southern Nevada – a story that has become a national sensation. We’ll also have more on the political headlines of the day and I might, just maybe offer an opinion or two. Tune in at 6:30 on all Nevada NBC affiliates.
FLASH FACT OF THE DAY: Two years ago today, the first trial in the Hepatitis C scandal began in Las Vegas. The scandal reinforced a perception of the city’s (and state’s) medical care that Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who talked about it last night, and others are trying to overcome by bringing in the Cleveland Clinic and other respected institutions. Will there be a day when that old joke – “Where do you go if you get sick in Las Vegas? To the airport” – is forgotten?
QUESTION OF THE DAY: How many guys named Zach (or Zac) work for the state Democratic Party and what are their last names? Tweet me at @RalstonFlash (I assume you are following me!) with the answer.
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