Political consultants work together, have differences of opinion

Political consultants and close friends Billy Vassiliadis and Pete Ernaut knew it was inevitable. The time has come.

They're on opposing teams, despite being partners in R&R Partners. The two talked about it before Ernaut merged his business with R&R Partners in 2005.

Vassiliadis favors mostly Democrats; Ernaut tilts Republican.

The election of 2010 has put the two men on opposing teams in a circuitous way that handcuffs the two friends from discussing the intricacies of strategy with each other in Nevada's two biggest races: U.S. Senate and governor.

Vassiliadis described himself as a "volunteer" for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., a word that downplays his role as a strategic adviser.

Ernaut calls himself a "close adviser" to Republican Brian Sandoval's gubernatorial bid.

Doesn't seem like they're on opposite teams, except for the unusual circumstance in which the senator's son, Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, is the shoo-in Democratic nominee for the governor's race and Vassiliadis is supporting Rory Reid as well.

Apparently, Sandoval won't be firing off any ads suggesting Rory Reid got where he is by riding his father's coattails, according to Ernaut. That kind of an attack by Sandoval on Rory Reid might have a spillover impact on the senator, meaning Ernaut would be attacking Vassiliadis' guy, actually both of Vassiliadis' guys.

To avoid conflicts of interests, the men are volunteering their time for free, and R&R staffs will not be involved in the two campaigns.

"To meet state and federal laws, we're not involving the company at all, none of our staffs are involved and R&R is not officially engaged," Vassiliadis said. "Pete and I are doing this personally."

This peculiar alignment of loyalties is a testament to how small Nevada's political world is, how good the two men are at what they do, and how discreet they can be when necessary. Both men said it will be odd to be unable to discuss strategies for the two races and to be hamstrung from using each other as sounding boards.

Ernaut says Sandoval won't be engaged in a "scorched earth" campaign, because that's not the former federal judge's style.

"This will not be an overly negative personal campaign," Ernaut said, saying Sandoval's style is not one of winning at all costs.

Because Sandoval will have a GOP primary in June and Rory Reid doesn't have a major Democratic opponent, Sandoval will have to tip his hand first, showing the type of campaign he'll run.

"The Sandoval campaign will be something different," Ernaut said. "It comes at a time when people want a leader, someone above reproach ethically. The public is tired of partisan politics, mudslinging and scandals. The focus on Brian's campaign will be much more optimistic and about the future than about the negativity that is in most campaigns."

Of course, here's Ernaut's caveat: "He'll not lay there and be somebody's whipping post."

Sandoval's 1998 race for attorney general against Democrat John Hunt emphasized experience, but at the end, Hunt was calling Sandoval "an empty suit" and Sandoval was calling Hunt "a career divorce lawyer."

Sandoval may be well-positioned to be stately. Polls show him beating Rory Reid in a head-to-head match. But the election is a year away.

Vassiliadis and Ernaut both said they didn't envision Sandoval's campaign hammering Rory Reid by pounding him with his father's issues or implying that the son's political success is due to the father's political power.

"I wouldn't think Brian Sandoval wants Harry Reid in his life," Vassiliadis said. "You've got two campaigns, the senator's staff is very focused on electing Harry Reid and Rory's folks are focused on him. I wouldn't think Brian would think he needs to pick a fight with Harry Reid."

That will be the job of the senator's GOP opponent.

The two make it sound like the governor's race is going to be following "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior."

But would there be this hands-off-Harry policy if Ernaut weren't partners with Vassiliadis?

Would another consultant for Sandoval go after Rory Reid and his father like a junkyard dog?

I doubt it.

Sandoval isn't junkyard dog material, nor is Rory Reid. (Notice I did not include the senator in this category.)

Maybe, just maybe, the governor's race will be an above-the-belt race.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.