Titus: CD3 decision will come by 'end of week'

LAS VEGAS-Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus said today that she has not committed to running against Republican Congressman Jon Porter in the 3rd Congressional District, but that she is "giving it very serious consideration."

Titus' comments followed a surprise announcement this morning that former Clark County chief deputy district attorney Robert Daskas was ending his bid in CD3, citing "family considerations."

Titus said she has been communicating "quite intensely" for days with both local and Washington Democrats about the race, but that she hadn't wanted to discuss it with reporters until Daskas announced his withdrawal.

"It's a big, life-changing decision," said Titus.

Titus, 57, is a political science professor at UNLV and was first elected to the state Senate in 1988. Having served as Nevada Senate Minority Leader since 1993, she ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006 and was defeated by now-Gov. Jim Gibbons. Although unsuccessful, Titus pointed to that election as evidence that she could appeal to 3rd Congressional District voters.

"I carried that district in the governor's race," said Titus, "plus my Senate seat overlaps a good bit of that district both now and before it was redistricted. I've worked hard there. I've also been watching that district because we've got those two state Senate races in there. Now it's 22,000 more Democrats; that's a big difference from when I carried that district before."

After Daskas announced his withdrawal, both DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen and Nevada Democratic Party Chairman Sam Lieberman released statements saying that Titus would make an excellent candidate.

Titus, however, said that before she made a final decision she would have to discuss it further with her family and with members of her caucus.

"If I don't run for reelection, that's a whole domino effect," said Titus. "[My district] is not going to go Republican and I would suspect that some of the Democratic Assemblyman in the district might look at it, but then of course you'll need to find somebody in their seat, so all that's got to be worked out pretty quick."

Titus said her final decision would come by "the end of the week."

Although Titus may have carried the 3rd district over Gibbons in 2006, facing Porter would be an entirely different race. Porter, a three-term incumbent, had over $1 million cash-on-hand at the end of the last fundraising quarter and will be certain to draw support from national Republicans.

"Unfortunately for whoever the Democratic nominee is, Congressman Porter has a record of legislative success, there's a substantial fundraising advantage and he understands how to win tough campaigns," said Porter press secretary Matt Leffingwell.

Leffingwell declined to comment on any Democratic challenger until after the August primary.

"I don't mind working hard and I know it's late," said Titus. "I'll have to get on the phone right away and raise the money, I don't underestimate that, but I don't see that as something that would keep me from running."

UNLV political scientist David Damore cautioned that although Titus potentially has a greater ability to raise money than Daskas had, she still "comes with baggage."

"She was pretty well defined easily and early on by the Gibbons crew, tax and spend and all that stuff," said Damore. "So she does have that sort of hangover from two years ago."

Damore added, however, that Titus is probably the best candidate Democrats could get "at this late notice."

"I don't want to just be the candidate who's tapped from the top," said Titus. "I want to be the candidate who's supported from the district. I can say one of the nice things is I've been getting a lot of people calling saying ‘we need you in that district.'"

"The state party is being very supportive if I want to do this, the state [Democratic] congressional delegation will be supportive if I want to do this. It would be fun being the establishment candidate."