On Wednesday, in an exclusive interview with Kolo-8, Governor Jim Gibbons told us he plans on dating again and says he hopes voters will understand his need to do so. But a day later, most political pundits are saying they won't and on Thursday we took the opportunity to ask a few voters what they think.

And who better to ask than people in Jim Gibbons' hometown of Sparks?

Many of the people Kolo-8 spoke with said they're skeptical that the Governor's personal life would not be a distraction. But the Governor himself is optimistic that he can date and be re-elected.

"My personal life, while it will be a subject of speculation. It will have little to do with the re-election of Jim Gibbons as Governor to the State of Nevada," said Gibbons.

But others aren't so sure. Several of the people at the Sparks Farmer's Market said the Governor's personal life will matter.

"He was dreaming if he thought it wasn't going to be brought up," said Barbara Newman from North Valley. "Because look at what happened with Hillary Clinton. So, if he's going for re-election, it will be brought up."

"I think he should be concentrating more on Nevada instead of his personal life," said Bobby Vest from Sparks.

The Governor's priorities are one of many issues at hand, according to voters and political scientists, who for the most part, are puzzled by Gibbons' motives.

Dr. Paul Davis, a political scientist, calls it a "hail mary strategy."

About one third of the people surveyed said the Governor should focus more on state politics and less on his personal life. Another third said the Governor should wait until his divorce is final before dating. And the remaining third agreed with Gibbons; saying who and when he dates should not matter.

"It doesn't concern me whatsoever," says Phillip Curry from Carson City. "That's his life. He can do what he wants with it."

The Governor has maintained that he wants to live his life like any other single person his age. But several of the people we spoke with say he waived that right when he became governor.

Even though many have their opinions about this now, we probably won't know how crucial his decision to date publicly will be until 2010 when he seeks re-election.