Titus to skip Democratic convention - News

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Aug. 19, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Titus to skip Democratic convention

By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- State Sen. Dina Titus has chosen not to interrupt her campaign for Congress, and will skip the Democratic National Convention in Denver, an aide said Monday.

The candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the House "is going to stay in the district. She decided she could get a lot done here," spokesman Andrew Stoddard said.

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Democrats are meeting from Aug. 25-28.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Jon Porter has already said he will not attend his party's national convention in St. Paul, Minn., from Sept. 1-4.

The Porter-Titus contest is among the most closely watched House races in the nation. The district once was evenly divided between the parties, but Democrats have gained a 25,000-head lead in registered voters.

The district includes Henderson, Boulder City, Laughlin, parts of Summerlin and portions of Clark County east of Las Vegas.

While the Democrats' main order of business in Denver will be to formally nominate Barack Obama for the presidency, conventions usually also offer chances for down-ticket Democrats to network.

But Titus would be wasting her time if she went to Denver, according to Mark Peplowski, a political science professor at the College of Southern Nevada.

"Dina and Jon don't need exposure among the rank and file" who will be at the conventions, Peplowski said.

"They are both working on the independent voters who will make all the difference in that race, and there aren't going to be many independents in Denver and St. Paul," he said.

Meanwhile, former university regent Jill Derby, the Democratic challenger in the 2nd Congressional District, plans to attend only the first two days of the convention, spokeswoman Kristen Cullen said.

Derby plans to meet with labor leaders and take part in an event sponsored by Emily's List, the political action committee that works to elect women to Congress.

Meeting with operatives in Denver "saves her a trip to Washington," Cullen said. "But she doesn't want to dedicate too much time there. She wants to spend time campaigning."

Like Porter, Rep. Dean Heller is skipping the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in favor of campaigning in the Northern Nevada-based district.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Sheila wrote on August 25, 2008 02:57 PM: why not a prayer w just the word God instead of in the name of Jesus. the Jewish vote has always been important. Are we not the inclusive party? the contribution to this country by Jews has been enormous. Shame on you..I'm a Democratic Jew, that you have insulted. I will still vote for Obama...wonder what type of prayer Hilary would of chose. jake wrote on August 19, 2008 10:13 PM: thank a democrat in NOV for the high gasoline prices VOTE NO NO NO Johnathan L. Abbinett wrote on August 19, 2008 09:50 PM: It's stunning to me that some people are so shallow and petty that they try to make an issue out of a person's voice? What if she were a deaf mute and used American Sign Language - would you complain about that too? What ever happened to rational people using some degree of logic and voting for people based on their history of public service and qualifications? Dina Titus has spent a life-time as a citizen, teacher, advocate, activist and elected representative - no one is better prepared to represent all of the citizens of Nevada Congressional District #3 than DINA! Tim wrote on August 19, 2008 04:43 PM: that b-itch needs all the help she can get.to bad it won't do any good. muah wrote on August 19, 2008 01:37 PM: "I can assure you she will be an improvement over that fool we have now." Voting for the lesser of 2 evils is still voting for evil. She's a career politician. Bad! I don't care for her diction either, Tom. But that's not an issue for me when voting. What IS an issue is that I get the feeling she'll just turn into another party shill and lockstep with Pelosi. Why wouldn't she? It would be political suicide NOT to. Exactly why career politicians = bad juju! Tom Best wrote on August 19, 2008 12:35 PM: Man, if she just didn't sound like Gomer Pyle. I moved out of the Northeast years ago, and immediately lost my Kennedy accent. Go with the flow, when in Rome, etc...Unfortunately, her inability to talk without the trailer park whang tells me she's not the sharpest knife in the utensil drawer. Good luck, Dineer.... Nancy wrote on August 19, 2008 12:08 PM: I can assure you she will be an improvement over that fool we have now. Campaign hard Ms. Titus, we really do need you. muah wrote on August 19, 2008 12:02 PM: It would be nice to fill this seat with an honest-to-god real citizen legislator, not a career politician. Send them for 2 or 3 terms, and if they want to sit in the senate for 1 term, that's fine. Then out to pasture! You can learn the ropes in the house, then you can make your mark in 6 years. Then LEAVE! William Bonzy wrote on August 19, 2008 05:56 AM: I have a better idea Diiiiiiiiina!!! Skip the election.