MINDEN - Gov. Kenny Guinn on Sunday urged Republicans with easy elections to pass along campaign funds to candidates having a tougher time collecting money.
Guinn cited state Sen. Dean Rhoades, R-Tuscarora, for already transferring some of his campaign money to the state Republican Party war chest because the Elko County senator feels confident of reelection.
"We're really struggling to collect money," Guinn said. "We hope each of our (party) groups will turn over money to our state party."
Guinn and much of the state's Republican hierarchy traveled to the Carson Valley Inn Sunday for the annual Douglas County Republican Party Central Committee's annual Lincoln Day dinner. Along with honoring President Lincoln's birthday a week early, the Republicans also honored President Reagan on the day of his 89th birthday.
"This is not a governor's race," Guinn said. "This is a race for our life in terms of reapportionment. Help these individuals that are having difficulty raising money."
Along with seeking a Republican majority in the Nevada Assembly to give the party power in reapportioning the state's political districts, the Republicans this year also are trying to elect former Rep. John Ensign into the U.S. Senate.
Ensign lost his Senate bid in 1998 by only 431 votes and this year he seeks the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev. Ensign focused on character and the military in his talk in Minden.
"As Republicans, we need to stand for a stronger military," Ensign said. "We need to take care of those veterans and their families after they get done serving their country."