But McCain takes donations from commercial casinos, which increasingly have been partnering with tribal groups. Presidential appointees could prove critical to such joint ventures: The tribes and their business partners must gain approval of the Interior Department and the National Indian Gaming Commission; the White House controls appointments to both.
Giuliani booster Station Casinos, owner or co-owner of 16 Las Vegas-area casinos, also operates Thunder Valley, the Indian casino with the most slot machines in California, and is seeking to develop three more Indian casinos in California and one in Michigan.
According to a recent financial statement, Station has invested $183 million in the developments. If the new ventures are structured like the Thunder Valley deal, Station could receive 24% of the casinos' winnings. Such facilities can earn $500 million a year or more, after paying jackpots. A $100,000 donation might prove modest in comparison.
"You give to the person you think is going to support your self-interest," said University of San Diego Law School professor Robert C. Fellmeth, a critic of the fundraising system. "A contribution of that degree implies agreement, if not obligation."
Station and the tribes expect to win approval of the casinos regardless of who is elected president, said Station Executive Vice President Scott Nielson. The company's principal owners, Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III, "concluded that Giuliani most closely reflects our views on most issues," Nielson said.
As candidates prospect in Nevada, there are other pitfalls. Photo ops in other states have candidates at county fairs or outside factory gates; Las Vegas, where casinos often double as quasi-civic gathering spots, is not quite so quaint.
"How can you campaign in Nevada without setting foot in a casino? That may be an image that voters elsewhere won't particularly like," said Massie Ritsch of the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington.
And other activities go on in Las Vegas.
Clinton took $2,300 from Dolores Eliades, an owner of Olympic Garden, a nightspot that describes itself as "one of the world's largest adult cabarets," featuring "literally hundreds of the world's most beautiful ladies (known as the Dreamgirls) in a relaxing and spacious setting."
"Is it a little more flamboyant because it is Las Vegas? Yes," said Eliades, who attended the Clinton dinner at the Four Seasons. "Do we do it better than other cities? Yes.... We have taken adult business mainstream. Is it for everybody? No."
dan.morain@latimes.com
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Nevada money
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Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gathered the most campaign money from the Nevada contributions during the first three months of the year:
Republicans
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Rudolph W. Giuliani: $526,375
Mitt Romney: $397,235
Sen. John McCain: $99,525
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Democrats
Sen. Hillary Clinton: $319,300
Sen. Barack Obama: $63,530
John Edwards: $45,700
(END TEXT OF INFOBOX)
