Gibbons may not run again, ex-Gov. List says

RENO (AP) - Former Nevada Gov. Bob List says he would not be surprised if fellow Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons abandons his plans to run for re-election next year.

List said on KRNV-TV's "Nevada Newsmakers" on Monday that Gibbons' popularity is "tremendously low" and his chances of winning are "fairly slim."

The first-term governor is insisting he's in the race for good, despite a pending divorce and two GOP primary challengers who think he's vulnerable for the way he handled the state budget.

But List says the governor may change his mind when he comes to the realization that he is in for a difficult, painful campaign.

A poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May showed only 11 percent of voters surveyed would vote to re-elect him.