Scandals and Missteps Dog New Nevada Governor

Asked about his new energy chief, Gibbons told a reporter he did not know her name, but "she's from India." Hatice Gecol is originally from Turkey.

Gibbons has tried to minimize the damage by avoiding the press. He hired Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell, who represented lobbyist Jack Abramoff, to guide him through dealings with the FBI. And his staff prefers to focus on a plan to decentralize school decision making and other bills Gibbons wants to push through the legislature's biennial 120-day session.

"Regardless of the numbers in the poll, the governor remains focused on his legislative agenda," spokeswoman Melissa Subbotin said. Gibbons did not make himself available for an interview.

Some Republicans in the state hope Gibbons will bounce back before July, the earliest he could be recalled under Nevada law.

The legislature's schedule tends to result in "a mighty crescendo of decision making" when it ends in June, Nevada Sen. Bob Beers (R) said. Beers said he believes that will sway voters back to Gibbons.

On the other side of the aisle, Gibbons's opponent in the gubernatorial election, Nevada Senate Democratic leader Dina Titus, said a recall is "certainly part of the conversation out there."

The deep divisions are new to Nevada's typically centrist politics, Herzik said. The state's fast growth has widened divisions between more liberal city-dwellers and rural conservatives, which was reflected in the November race, he added.

Now "it's as if the campaign has never stopped," Herzik said.

Democrats risk a backlash from conservatives if they push too hard, Herzik said. Gibbons's "poll numbers are incredibly low. But will that be enough to get him recalled? Not unless one of these charges sticks."