Editor's blog

The PolitickerNV.com Smartest Legislator Tournament is intended to be a contest of sheer intelligence -- an online, interactive contest among readers to determine Nevada's most intellectually talented. This is not about political parties, vote-getting abilities, fundraising prowess, legislative achievements, or personal popularity -- it's a contest to look at the minds of the legislators. Think about their ability to reason, to solve problems, to comprehend complicated ideas, to think abstractly, to articulate their views, and to learn. Consider their personal wisdom, their knowledge, and their ability to deal with cognitive complexity. | CLICK HERE

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It's not their kind of place.  Presidentially I mean.  Could you imagine the Republican convention ever being held in Las Vegas?  If we do one thing well, it's put on conventions.  I think there is no way the socially conservative base of the party would approve.

This brief story at MSNBC provides a very plausible explanation as to why Republican candidates have appeared frightened of the Silver State. You accidentally walk into a place called "Curves" around these parts and you are making a lot more news than single paragraph stories.

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Molly Ball said just about everything that needed to be said regarding former Governor Bob List's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani.  He is a former one-term Governor from ages ago who supports Yucca now.  None of this really hurts Giuliani, but does it help?

Honestly, the early Rudy endorsement by Congressman Jon Porter is far more valuable.  He's in office now, he's in a politically embattled district split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, and he is solidly against Yucca.

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On the eve of a national Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, a CNN/Opinion Research poll of Nevada Democratic caucus-goers shows Hillary Clinton over the magic 50% mark for the early January 19 caucus in the Silver State. Clinton leads Barack Obama by a 51%-23% margin, with John Edwards at 11%.

The other Democratic candidates are still polling in single digits: Bill Richardson (5%), Joe Biden (4%), and Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich (1%). Christopher Dodd has less than 1% of the vote in the poll released earlier today.

"Clinton's advantage among Democratic caucus-goers appears to be based on the perception that she is the most electable candidate and the strongest leader in the field," said Keating Holland, the CNN Polling Director.

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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will campaign in Nevada on Friday and Saturday.  He will attend an Economic Roundtable sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning.  On Saturday, he will be in Henderson for 12:30 PM Economic Town Hall meeting – he calls it “Ask Mitt Anything” – at the Paseo Verde Library.  Then at 2:00 PM, he’ll meet with campaign workers at the Doubletre Club Hotel near the Las Vegas Airport.

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Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen, who will formally endorse Hillary Clinton for President at a rally at his old high school on Saturday morning, posted his endorsement of the Senator from New York on the Clinton campaign website today:

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CNN Political Editor Mark Preston and Las Vegas Sun political columnist Jon Ralston seem to agree that an endorsement by the 60,000-member Culinary Workers Union Local 226 would impact the January 19 presidential caucuses – if the union decides to make an endorsement before then.

 “To win the Nevada caucuses, you have to get the union’s support,” Ralston told CNN about the powerful casino workers union. 

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will visit Northern Nevada on Friday, with stops in Reno and Fernley. She will hold a town hall meeting at the Brady Power Plant at 1:30 PM to discuss renewable energy.

The Clinton campaign says that the event is open to the public, and suggested that Nevadans who want to attend should contact the campaign. more >

Harry Reid says 100,000 Democrats will take part in Nevada's caucusesSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid predicted that 100,000 Democrats will participate in Nevada's January 19 presidential caucus. Speaking with reporters on a conference call two days before presidential candidates will be in Las Vegas for a nationally-televised debate, Reid said that a high turnout will help Nevadans play a key role in the presidential nomination process in future elections.

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