Las Vegas, Reno papers endorses Democrat John Kerry for president

LAS VEGAS - Two of the state's largest newspapers endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president Sunday, believing the Massachusetts senator would do everything in his power to block the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

The Las Vegas Sun said President George W. Bush has pushed for building the nuclear storage site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas despite hundreds of scientific questions that remain unanswered.

"In contrast, Kerry has been vocal in his opposition. This is good news for the whole nation, which will be imperiled if Yucca Mountain opens and nuclear waste is transported daily for the next several decades on public roads and railways that are not safe for such deadly material," the Las Vegas Sun wrote.

The Reno Gazette-Journal, which is in the heavily Republican Washoe County, said voters should put stock in Kerry's pledge to stop Yucca if they are to believe U.S. Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev.

"As to Kerry's leadership abilities and honesty, northern Nevadans should take the word of Sen. Harry Reid. He has known Kerry for 20 years and has seen him in action close up. When Kerry says that he will not allow Yucca Mountain to be used as a nuclear waste repository, Reid says that Nevadans can believe him," the Gazette-Journal said.

In its endorsement, the Las Vegas Sun said it was confident that Kerry had the will and strength to deal with a hostile world.

"He says he will root out the real terrorists and either capture or kill them. We are impressed with Kerry's resolve in this area, which we cannot imagine being diluted or diverted as was the case with President Bush when he switched his focus to Iraq, a country that had posed no external threat but which is now a breeding ground for hate and terrorism."

The Gazette-Journal said Bush has mishandled the post-war struggle in Iraq.

"The war was conducted well. It was the aftermath that showed the administration at its worst. The administration was ill-prepared for what happened after the war ended, and the need to rebuild the infrastructure and rebuild army and police forces has contributed greatly to the troubles we still face there," the Reno newspaper wrote.

The Las Vegas Sun said Kerry is the only choice for president.

"He would be a president who would restore America's respect in the world. There would be a positive resolution to the war in Iraq. Our country would be safer, as our focus on fighting terrorism would not waver. The economy would be more oriented toward ordinary Americans. And Nevada and the country would be far safer without Yucca Mountain," according to the Las Vegas Sun.

The Gazette-Journal explained voters face a wrenching decision when they go to the polls in Nevada, a battleground state, but said it's difficult to deny that the "administration of George W. Bush largely has been a failure."

Bush, the Reno paper said, doesn't deserve to be re-elected.

"Whether Kerry can reverse these failed policies remains to be seen, but it would be foolish to reward the administration for its failures with four more years in office."