Independent Would Shake Up Nevada's Governor Race

If a three-way race for Nevada governor develops, former state Attorney General Brian Sandoval, the Republican, is in the lead with 35 percent followed by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who said he may run as an independent, at 28 percent, and Democratic Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, son of Majority Leader Harry Reid, in third at 21 percent, according to a Nevada News Bureau poll published yesterday. Sixteen percent preferred someone else. The margin of error is 5 points.

Nevada has a sitting Republican governor in Jim Gibbons but he has been hobbled by his political battles and a bitter divorce fight last year during which his wife locked him out of the governor's mansion at one point. A poll by the Las Vegas Review Journal in October said if Gibbons tries to run for re-election, he would be "trounced" in a GOP primary by Sandoval.

An independent candidacy by Goodman would hurt Reid the most since 49 percent of his support would come from Democrats and 36 percent from Republicans.