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Opinion
Oct. 17, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: A changing of the guard?

Nevada may soon have new faces in high places

These are interesting times for Nevada's congressional delegation. So interesting that it may include a number of new faces within the next three years.

For Rep. Dean Heller, the Republican who represents the entire state outside Clark County, and Rep. Shelley Berkley, the Democrat whose district covers most of urban Las Vegas, it appears to be smooth sailing.

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    • But the state's third House member, Rep. Dina Titus, doesn't have it so good. Congressional Quarterly has put the freshman Democrat in the "vulnerable" category for next year's elections. Rep. Titus, though, has raised $761,823 so far to go along with $571,668 she had in the bank.

    "Money is a powerful check against an anti-Democratic wave or any problems that emerge with President Obama's popularity," Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Bloomberg News.

    Indeed. We'll see how well it inoculates Rep. Titus next November.

    Meanwhile, Nevada's two senators face a host of difficulties.

    Republican John Ensign continues to bleed from the wounds suffered when he announced he had an affair with a campaign staffer -- and tried to keep it quiet with what amounted to hush money. He isn't up for re-election until 2012, though many observers have already pronounced him DOA. But three years is an eternity in politics, so don't shovel dirt on him yet. Suffice it to say, though, that a safe seat will now be in play come 2012 -- even if Sen. Ensign decides to seek re-election.

    Finally, Sen. Harry Reid has seen his Nevada poll numbers crumble as he pushes the liberal agenda of Senate Democrats. The comparisons to Tom Daschle are obvious and appropriate. Nevada was in the national spotlight during the early Democratic caucuses last year. Look for the attention to be even more intense next year as the top Democrat in the Senate tries to work himself out of trouble.

    Couple all this with the fact that Gov. Jim Gibbons is a long shot for re-election -- there's speculation he may not even run -- and Nevada may be on the verge of a political changing of the guard not seen in many decades.

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    fire fighters for reid !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wrote on October 17, 2009 09:00 PM:

    9 1 1


    let us disclose who the mormons elected are, so others can see the pattern wrote on October 17, 2009 09:00 PM: .


    Jen wrote on October 17, 2009 06:04 PM: Dina Titus is awesome - I will be proudly donating and campaigning!

    She actually sends back meaningful responses to emails, makes sense, and is a very intelligent, thoughtful lady. If we could get more like her, the world would be a much better place!

    Thank you Dina!!


    GH wrote on October 17, 2009 05:47 PM: The "lets keep Reid because he's powerful" argument is getting old. If that's the best reason people can think of to re-elect someone after 20 years as a Senator it shows why it's time for someone new.

    If you think he's been good for NV and the country over the last 20 years vote for him, if you think someone else would be better for NV and the country vote against him, but the fact he's the majority leader is not a good reason to re-elect him.


    Harry Bollox wrote on October 17, 2009 05:44 PM: Oh, yeah. Reid has done so much for this state. Nevada ranks last in the nation in federal stimulus spending on a per capita basis, and 49th in what it receives back from the federal government in comparison with taxes its residents pay.

    In other words, Nevadans, BOHICA, or Bend Over Here It Comes Again. Reid isn't interested in doing ANYTHING for Nevada. All he's interested in is the power and money he's getting while in office. Send the schmuck back to Searchlight. And while we're at it, send his dipstick son, Rory, with him.


    Skirt chaser wrote on October 17, 2009 04:40 PM: So what that Gov. Gibbons is a skirt chaser. At least he ain's a Gay Mormon!

    And, he stood by his campaign slogans especially the one that said "NO TAXES!!!".

    Titus will WIN because we don't want her in the Nevada Legislature. Stay in WASHINGTON. Let her do her damage there.

    Senator Reid has alotta explainnning to do. He needs to drop his ego thing and go door to door. The people of Nevada will respect him more for that than for anything. Plus, he has 5 sons that can go door to door too. He needs to get back to the basics of winning a campaign. Former Sen. Tom Daschle went the "ego route" and lost.

    Ensign will be a loser before 2012 if he doesn't end up in prison 1st.











    Mike Ault wrote on October 17, 2009 04:40 PM: @Brian

    "You'd have to be pretty dumb to not want the top senator from Nevada, and instead of putting a rookie."

    Brian, that is probably the most illiterate sentence of the day.

    Congratulations.


    nOT A bIG fAN wrote on October 17, 2009 03:37 PM: THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE UP AN ESENTIAL LIBERTY FOR TEMPORARY SECURITY,DESERVE NEITHER LIBERTY OR SECURITY.

    BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
    ---------------------------------------

    YOU SEE: LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER. JUST LOOK AT HARRY AND HIS SPAWN...


    SamT wrote on October 17, 2009 03:02 PM: @John F: Tom Daschle no longer legislates.

    That's one good thing.


    The Hill wrote on October 17, 2009 02:29 PM: The people of South Dakota no longer are represented by Daschle. That alone makes their lives better. They are perceived to be smarter than they would have been had they re-elected Daschle.

    And, liberals, caring so much what others think, should be gratified that so many are indeed gratified that Daschle was not only not re-elected, but his lear-jet limousine lifestyle got his butt booted from consideration as Health and Human Services Head.

    I too feel more gratified just making these observations. So there. That's why.


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