NRCC keeps up the pressure against Titus

LAS VEGAS-The National Republican Congressional Committee has continued early attempts to define Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus as "not the right fit for Nevada" in her prospective campaign against Republican Rep. Jon Porter in the 3rd Congressional District.

"Dina Titus lost in 2006 during a Democrat tidal wave," Julie Shutley, NRCC deputy communications director, said in a statement. "With her record and political baggage, her candidacy for Congress will be over before it even begins." 

Titus is expected to make an announcement on her potential bid tomorrow.

The NRCC previewed themes that will likely be used against Titus if she chooses to challenge Porter, including charging Titus with supporting "giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants," voting "for 25 different tax increases, including raising sales and property taxes" and voting "for the largest tax increase in Nevada's history."

The NRCC also seized on comments that Titus included in an e-mail to supporters Tuesday. Titus wrote: "Democratic national congressional leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, Shelley Berkley, and Harry Reid, have called on me to carry us to victory in CD 3."

"The fact that Democrat leaders are wooing her into the race is just another indication that Dina Titus will take the same liberal record she has in the Nevada legislature to Washington," Shutley said.

Titus, however, appears ready to take on Porter and the NRCC.

"The Republican attack machine will stop at nothing to hang on to CD3. We have seen how they turn accomplishments into negatives, distort voting records, and twist words," said Titus in her e-mail.

Titus ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006 and lost by 4 percentage points against Republican Jim Gibbons. She did, however, win about 5,000 more votes than Gibbons in the 3rd Congressional District, at a time when Democrats held a registration advantage of less than 2,000 votes in the district. The Democratic edge in the district is now more than 22,500 voters, largely due to the success of the Democrats' Jan. 19 precinct caucuses.

Titus brings other advantages to a potential run, however, including a donor base that helped her raise more than $2 million in her gubernatorial bid and high statewide name recognition.

"Should I run for Congress to give the people of CD3 effective representation? I need to decide soon so please write me your thoughts," Titus asked supporters in the e-mail, including a link to an open thread on her blog.

As of noon today, she had received 174 comments.