While Reid and Sandoval campaign, Goodman leads parade

Oscar Goodman has 'em right where he wants 'em: watching Oscar Goodman.

The popular Las Vegas mayor isn't yet an announced candidate for governor -- there's no telling what he'll do -- but he's emerging as a contender for hapless Jim Gibbons' job.

Goodman's rise in the latest Las Vegas Review-Journal poll made an interesting headline and must have sent Democrat Rory Reid and Republican Brian Sandoval straight for the Maalox. But at this point the poll, like Goodman's non-candidacy, is more entertaining than enlightening.

The survey, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, showed Goodman out front despite being undeclared and controversial. Goodman led with 35 percent, Sandoval had 32 percent, Reid had 24 percent, and 9 percent were undecided.

It must be hard to take for Reid and Sandoval. They appear to epitomize the sincere, serious, studious, and sober candidacy. Then Goodman comes in, delivers a few minutes of shtick, and the crowd goes wild. Reid and Sandoval look like Goodman's opening act.

Will Goodman run?

He has said, if he runs, it will be as an independent. Goodman has until the end of the year to change his party affiliation from Democrat. But December is not his drop-dead date.

Filing for the office doesn't close until the second week of March. Expect Goodman to pine over the decision and milk it in the press.

If he has a political strategy, and I'm not sure he does, that's it: Keep his name in the media as mayor and watch others spend big money to catch up in the name recognition department.

Unlike his declared opponents, Goodman doesn't have to assemble a crack team of political image-makers. For better or worse, Goodman makes his own image every time he opens his mouth.

While Reid is paying his campaign machine, and Sandoval is taking a big risk by leaving a respected job for life as a federal judge, the term-limited Goodman keeps to an arduous daily schedule that by its nature places him in front of voters and TV cameras. He's on the 6 o'clock news more often than the weather report.

In a recent three-day period, Goodman appeared on "Good Morning America," played host with wife Carolyn to a Shade Tree Shelter fundraiser, and waved to crowds numbering in the thousands at the annual Great Las Vegas Santa Run and the cowboy Christmas show.

While Reid and Sandoval campaign, Goodman leads a parade.

That said, anyone who would want to be governor in this economic climate has to be nuts. I've always thought Goodman had better sense.

But there's a difference between wanting the job and being able to win it. In that regard, Goodman has an advantage over the declared candidates. He's already a known quantity for voters.

"People will know if I run what they're going to get, a little bit of controversy but someone who really loves his community," Goodman said. "I'm not going to do anything different, and I'm not going to be a phony."

Could that be enough to turn Nevada's political picture upside down?

Reid has to worry about being perceived as too liberal. Sandoval must worry about being seen as conservative enough for the Republican base. Meanwhile, Mr. Shoot-From-the-Lip doesn't worry about anything and appeals to a wide cross-section of voters.

How Goodman's new City Hall obsession fits into his organized labor alliances and political future remains unclear, but it will give critics a big target to shoot at. That assumes they'll need to fire at Candidate Goodman.

For now, Goodman has a free roll. The good news for others is it's slightly less than a year from Election Day.

Until March, when he must tip his hand, I'll bet they keep watching Oscar Goodman.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.