State Sen. Joe Heck is returning from his tour of duty in Iraq, having been the subject of one hagiographic profile in the Review-Journal and the author of two dispatches from the war zone (neither of which disclosed the little tidbit about him being on the ballot this year!). What more does he need to frustrate Democrats and easily win re-election than that?

How about a welcome-home fundraiser at the Bellagio?

Heck will be feted May 28in the Bellagio’s Caramel Lounge in a invite headlined by Gov. Jim Gibbons, the man who has fallen to pieces with his response to the hepatitis C crisis while Heck has calmly made intelligent, thoughtful suggestions from 10,000 miles away. (Heck for governor in 2010? Who knows, people?)

Also on the invite are Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (no photo, however; wonder how that happened?); Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio; the Senate and Assembly Republican caucuses and Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert.

Oh, don’t forget MGM Mirage.

Co-hosts include the Nevada Bankers Association; Nevada Franchised Auto Dealers Association; Nevada Motor Transport Association; Retail Association of Nevada; Sig Rogich; McDonald Carano Wilson; Kummer Kaempfer, Bonner, Renshaw and Ferrario; and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Mmmmm, capitalistic-y.

Lobbyists Trevor Hayes, Alfredo Alonso and Mike Alonso are also on the invite list.

Since it’s $500 per person, and $1,000 per corporation or PAC, we probably won’t be able to attend. But we’re sure that if Heck’s re-election weren’t already sealed (it was) this should put him over the top.

Oh, important safety note: The e-mail address to RSVP, dcherry@J3Strategies.com is not our friend David Cherry, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley. It’s someone named Danielle Cherry. So, just keep that in mind.