Clark County GOP Convention

PolitickerNV's press credential for the 2008 Clark County GOP ConventionLas Vegas- When staff and press arrived at the Orleans Hotel and Casino for the 2008 Clark County GOP Convention last Saturday, they were given identification badges attached to red and white lanyards to hang around their necks with the curious name of “Elegant Angel” on the lanyards and a website: www.elegantangel.com. 

Sometime around mid-morning, staffers realized that Elegant Angel is a brand name of pornography and the lanyards were quickly taken off.

“It was purely an accident,” said Bobbie Haseley, media relations director for the county party, Monday.  “Somebody dropped those off for us to use and they had been sitting around in a box, I guess for quite some time.”

Gov. Jim Gibbons takes the stage at the 2008 Clark County Republican ConventionLas Vegas- In contrast to the debacle that greeted Clark County Democrats with their Feb. 23 convention, the Clark County GOP hosted a convention today that was long on organization and shows of Republican unity and decidedly short of drama.

With Ariz. Sen. John McCain already the presumptive Republican nominee, seemingly the only task for the Clark County Republicans who turned out in record numbers at the Orleans Hotel and Casino today was to get excited about him, a task made easier by the slew of senior Republican officials offering their full-throated, if begrudging, support.

"I'll be the first to say," said Congressman Dean Heller as he addressed the convention in the early afternoon, "that John McCain was not my first choice.  But he is my first choice today."

Speaking before the Clark County GOP Convention, Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) discusses his recent trip to Iraq and the signs of progress he has seen there.

In this video, Congressman Dean Heller explains his low environmental rating to the Clark County GOP and discusses illegal immigration.

Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV) discusses supporting John McCain for the presidency, his legislative philosophy and recent political history.

A few things to note: First, the heckler in the background was a rarity at the Clark County GOP Convention.  Second, the delegates' somewhat bizarre reaction to Heller's low environmental rating.

Gov. Jim Gibbons concludes his remarks to the Clark County Republican Convention with what is known in political circles as "the hard ask."

Gov. Jim Gibbons speaks about his support for Ariz. Sen. John McCain for president, reiterates pledge not to raise taxes.