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Berkley-Heller debate was an embarrassment all around
If ever there were a time capsule dedicated to the dissipation of political discourse, Thursday evening’s Nevada U.S. Senate debate should be a featured item. The candidates showed a consistent lack of respect for the electorate, leaving one to wonder: Do the voters deserve the disdain? I worry about the answer.
Culinary not only registering voters but giving members list of endorsed candidates
The list below isn't newsworthy in and of itself -- there are few surprises. But the Culinary union, which will turn out tens of thousands of voters when early voting begins Oct. 20,  will send the endorsed candidate matrix to its members, giving them time to reinforce who the leaders support. This could be a powerful tool as the election closes, and it will be interesting to match the list with who wins on Nov. 6.  ---- President & Vice President / Presidente y Vicepresidente                 Barack Obama
A preview of tonight's U.S. Senate debate
 Debates don’t often matter much in campaigns dominated by television ads that have much greater influence. But as Dean Heller and Shelley Berkley engage in the first of their three confrontations tonight, I think they may have a large impact. Why?
New NBC poll: Obama up 2, Heller up 6 in Nevada
In results sure to confuse/infuriate/thrill partisans, the fourth poll on Nevada released this week shows President Obama up by 2 points over Mitt Romney among likely voters and Sen. Dean Heller up 6 points over Rep. Shelley Berkley. The NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist survey -- I have posted the entire Nevada poll below -- also shows that among registered voters, Obama is up 7 and Heller is up 4. Registered voters can be more reliable in a presidential year when turnout is 80 percent-plus.
The U.S. Senate debate drinking game
Tonight, from 8 PM to 9 PM, Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Shelley Berkley will square off in their first debate on public TV, North and South. If that doesn't excite you enough, here's what to do -- take a swig of your favorite drink every time this happens: Heller says the word "ethics" Berkley says the word "Medicare" Heller says the words "Harry Reid" Berkley says the words "Big Oil" Heller says the word "corrupt" Berkley says the words "Wall Street" Heller says the words "Obamacare" and "stimulus" and "TARP"
R&R, Barrick to host fundraiser for two lawmakers -- one Democrat and one Republican
R&R Partners and Barrick Gold, two major players in Nevada politics, are holding a unique fundraiser a week from Thursday -- a joint event for a Democratic assemblywoman guaranteed victory and a GOP state senator not on the ballot. Assemblywoman Debbie Smith and state Sen. Ben Kieckhefer are sure to be key players in their respective caucuses, and these two lobbying powerhouses always have influence in both houses and in both parties. But you almost never see a fundraiser for two lawmakers of the same party, as the invite indicates:
DSCC up against Heller, using footage from Harry Reid video of Nevada delegation meeting
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is up with a new ad about Sen. Dean Heller, portraying him as a Wall Street tool who wants to end Medicare as we know it. Â Sound familiar? Â Â Â Â Best part of the ad is that shot of Heller is taken from a Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid video of a delegation meeting in 2009, when they were talking about Yucca Moutnain. Too good: Â
New online registrations favor Democrats
Since the end of last month, signficantly more Democrats have registered online than Republicans, according to numbers I've obtained from the secretary of state's office. UPDATE: Below are numbers for last two years and since Sept. 1. Since the beginning of the month, as many people have registered online as did in the previous two years. The overall numbers: 7,338 Democrats and 6,558 Republicans through Tuesday. Since Sept. 1: Democrats, 4,411; Republicans, 2,874. That's a blowout. Â
Obama increases frequency of trips to Nevada
President Obama has been to Nevada eight times in 2010 and 15 times since he was sowrn in. But when he arrives Sunday for Trip No. 16, it will be his fourth in just over a month, showing just how important the state has become to his path to victory. A reminder of POTUS in Nevada:  1.       01/26/12             POTUS remarks at UPS Facility in Las Vegas
Roberson, hunting for more money to fuel bid for control, forms pair of new PACs
State Sen. Michael Roberson, who hopes to be the upper house leader next year, has formed two new PACs to increase his ability to raise money.