Reid, Sandoval trade lobbying barbs

Rory Reid launched a new television ad Thursday attacking his Republican gubernatorial foe, claiming Brian Sandoval will be beholden to special interests because of ties to two powerful lobbyists in Nevada.

Sandoval's campaign was swift to shoot back, noting Reid's law firm is one of the largest in the state with a long list of lobbying clients.

Reid's ad blames the state's dismal economy and unemployment on "big banks and other powerful interests."

"They crashed our economy," he says, "And now they've recruited Brian Sandoval to run for governor. They'll just keep holding Brian Sandoval's hand. But I'll hold them accountable."

Reid, chairman of the Clark County Commission and son of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has trailed Sandoval throughout the campaign by double-digits. The latest survey conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and KLAS-TV showed Sandoval ahead by 16 percentage points.

Sandoval left a lifetime appointment as a federal judge a year ago to challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons. He acknowledged he was recruited to run by Pete Ernaut and Greg Ferraro, two powerful state lobbyists with a long list of clients in casino, transportation, insurance, mining, utility, development and health care industries.

Sandoval's campaign issued a statement calling Reid's ad "his next desperate attack," and included its own list of clients represented by Reid's Lionel, Sawyer & Collins law firm, of which he is a partner.

"In fact, it's Rory whose firm includes clients of banking and financial institutions, energy and insurance companies and public utilities," the statement said.

"While it's ironic that Rory Reid's first fall attack is false and hypocritical, it's not terribly surprising from his campaign," said Sandoval spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner.