Shifting registration numbers in NV draw national interest

The latest figures on voter registration released by the Nevada secretary of state have pundits and reporters from the national media speculating that the Republican stranglehold over the Sagebrush State could be in danger.

The secretary of state's office says that, as of the end of June, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than 55,000 in Nevada. State Democats note that they now hold a 5 percent edge over the GOP when in 2004 — the year of the last presidential election — Republicans voters outnumbered Democrats in the state.

The shift has drawn the attention of the Los Angeles Times, which wrote about the ramifications of Nevada's registration numbers for the upcoming presidential runoff between presumed nominees, U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.)

MSNBC.com included the numbers in its Battleground Watch blog on Tuesday along with a quote from Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston, who said the Democratic gains could have the most dire implications for U.S. Rep. Jon Porter (R-Boulder City). Porter is facing a fight from Democratic State Sen. Dina Titus (D-Henderson).