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Opinion
Jun. 24, 2008
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ERIN NEFF: Presidential race heats up in Nevada

ERIN NEFF
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While you battle the onset of extreme temperatures, the presidential candidates are already waging war here in the West's best bellwether state.

We've heard national pundits return to crowing about Ohio and Florida, with their huge caches of electoral votes, but Democrats are eyeing smaller Western states to help Barack Obama win the White House.

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    • And while New Mexico has been trending blue for some time, Nevada is only now morphing out of purple and into a more bluish hue.

    The battle here will be intense, and the major party candidates -- who again chase each other in Nevada this week -- will have dozens of opportunities to press the flesh as the year continues.

    Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has been setting the agenda here thus far (first on the air with a commercial and first to announce two visits). Obama has subsequently gone on the air and has scheduled trips to Nevada to coincide with McCain's trips last month and this week.

    Recent polls by both Rasmussen and Mason-Dixon show the presidential race is essentially a toss-up here. McCain is up slightly on Obama, but not outside of the margin of error.

    But this week signaled an advantage for Obama not evident on the air, in the public events or the polls. On Monday, Hillary Clinton's supporters did their best "Kumbaya" with an announcement of statewide unity, however forced, behind Obama.

    This is really the week in which Obama will finally step out from the contentious primary battle and reach out to Clinton's most ardent fans. There's a joint campaign event scheduled for Friday.

    Numerous Clinton supporters, including her delegates and leaders of her campaign, announced Monday they are now working for Obama. That includes state Treasurer Kate Marshall, who spearheaded Clinton's efforts in Northern Nevada, and Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, who chaired her statewide campaign. Rep. Shelley Berkley also came to Obama's side recently after having aggressively campaigned for Clinton in the run-up to the January caucuses and state Democratic conventions that followed.

    On McCain's side of the aisle, unity has a much different look.

    Not only is the big tent party trying to oust Gov. Jim Gibbons from its three-ring circus, McCain has chosen a less-than-stable ringmaster to try to restore order. Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who has been the subject of a state investigation into his past performance as state treasurer, was tapped to head up McCain's Nevada campaign for the general election.

    Republican voters cannot be underestimated in a state that voted twice for George W. Bush, but getting someone to lead them has not been an easy task for McCain.

    First of all, you need someone with good statewide name recognition who won't bring the top of the ticket down. Gibbons was obviously out, his popularity lower than that of Bush or Congress, and with voters disgusted by him becoming just another national joke: "I did not have text with that woman."

    McCain couldn't get Sen. John Ensign, who's still as popular as ever in Nevada. Ensign's too busy heading up GOP efforts to avoid losing more seats in the U.S. Senate this year. He has the unenviable task of defending some lackluster incumbents and having to root for some fringe candidates.

    Where else could McCain turn? Rep. Dean Heller might have a statewide profile -- he used to be secretary of state -- but his congressional opponent's only shot this year is to turn him into a Bush/McCain clone. That would be so much easier if Heller were working for McCain.

    Rep. Jon Porter's too busy fighting for his right to stay in the band to get bogged down with McCain. Besides, Porter was for Rudy Giuliani before McCain.

    State Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio of Reno is too busy angling for a fiscally conservative solution to the budget crisis on the eve of his primary race to work for McCain.

    So, the Straight Talk Express landed with the most roundabout talker in Nevada politics. Krolicki may have won three statewide races, but he's known more recently as the guy who likes to talk himself out of problems.

    And with so many Democrats surrounding him in the Capitol, Krolicki is like a whipping boy -- in a useless office to boot.

    And with his prime nemesis Kate Marshall now fronting for Obama, the general election dynamics will be shrill.

    It's amazing what a few weeks will do. Once-warring Democrats are now united, and the early nomination victory by McCain still hasn't resulted in the selection of convention delegates from Nevada's GOP.

    In a few months, we may look to this week as a turning point.

     

    Contact Erin Neff at (702) 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.



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    Steve wrote on June 24, 2008 08:19 PM: Leslie,

    What part of RINO, exactly, don't you understand? Just because they are supposedly on the Republican ticket doesn't make them a Republican.


    Leslie wrote on June 24, 2008 05:31 PM: Steve,

    I looked, and ALL of the bills from 1986 on are Republican initiated.

    From the Reagan backed 1986 Simpson-Mizzoli Act to the the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act (S. 1033), a bill proposed in May 2005 by Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain, sometimes referred to as the "McCain-Kennedy or McKennedy Bill"

    the Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005 (S. 1438), a bill proposed in July 2005 by Senators John Cornyn and Jon Kyl, sometimes referred to as the "Cornyn-Kyl Bill

    the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2611), sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter, which was passed in the Senate in May 2006 but never passed in the House

    The current bill is The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, or, in its full name, the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007
    The bill's sole sponsor in the Senate was Majority Leader Harry Reid, though it was crafted in large part as a result of efforts by Senators Kennedy, McCain and Kyl, along with Senator Lindsey Graham, and input from President George W. Bush, who strongly supported the bill.

    I see Republicans being the ones most pushing cheap imported labor.

    Truth is power! Go learn. I know it huts to know so many different Republicans are backing amnesty, but only Kennedy and now Reid are the only Democrats pushing same.

    OW! It hurts to be Republican!


    Steve wrote on June 24, 2008 04:50 PM: Leslie,

    A RINO is NOT a Republican. Look through the Senate records and you will find Ted Kennedy's hand in every single AMNESTY granted since he took office. His slap on the wrist for committing murder didn't slow down his AMNESTY quests. John McAmnesty is also a RINO (that stands for Republican In Name Only) because they are on the Republican ticket but are anything but Republican.


    helenweils wrote on June 24, 2008 04:31 PM: typical trivial erin barf


    leslie wrote on June 24, 2008 02:52 PM: and lastly, Steve, the 1986 Act was known as the Simpson-Mizzoli Act after Alan Simpson, a Republican Senator from Wyoming.

    reaganimmact


    Travis wrote on June 24, 2008 01:52 PM: Steve, all I have to say is Reagan. Even if the bill was started by Kennedy, Reagan had a choice whether to support it or not. Did he veto it?

    It doesn't matter which side is pointing the finger, neither side has a foot to stand on. Let's stop this bickering and focus our attention onto the issue that needs to be addressed. While we are arguing, they aren't pressured to do anything. See my point?


    Steve wrote on June 24, 2008 01:29 PM: Ron,

    The ILLEGAL AMNESTY is a DEMOCRAT plan. It's just being fully supported by RINOs like Bush and McAmnesty. If you would care to check your facts (real facts..not the propaganda you obviously subscribe to) you will see that ALL of the previous amnesties (6 I believe) were originated by Ted Kennedy. The last time I checked, Kennedy was NOT a Republican. My point (hence the word "their" meaning plural) was that no matter who is elected, AMNESTY is a GUARANTEE!


    Ron wrote on June 24, 2008 08:21 AM: Steve,

    I believe the ILLEGAL immigrant amnesty plan is a BUSH/McCAIN plan. You people are really something! You hate Obama for something YOUR Party started; AMNESTY for ILLEGALS! Reagan started it and Bush wants to continue the legacy.

    George; You know were all tools of corporations right? Eisenhower warned us, as he left the presidency, to beware the industrial [and] military complex! He knew what he was talking about! Bechtel; Kellog, Brown & Root; Halliburton; World Bank; CIA; JECOR; Inter-American Development Bank; Bush family (owners of United Fruit and Pennzoil); all of this since the 1950s......

    We're ALL affirmative action slaves in these machines!


    bo wrote on June 24, 2008 08:06 AM: Nevada isn't ready for Obama and having Reid in his camp will only make things worse.Nevada might be turning blue ,but are we ready for a socialist like Obama


    br wrote on June 24, 2008 07:46 AM: Erin
    Your brain transplant is ready. Your hairdresser also called. Your wig is in.


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