Heidi Smith

Republican Congressman Dean HellerLas Vegas- Although the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries are still far from over, results from those races may be pointing to a tougher-than-expected reelection campaign for Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV) in the largely rural 2nd Congressional District.

The trouble for Heller, several observers believe, would come from the combination of a win in the Democratic primary for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and a lingering disaffection among Nevada Republicans over the loss of former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in the GOP primaries.

“In Congressional District 2, most of the counties went to Barack Obama [in the Jan. 19 Democratic caucuses],” said Steve Platt, chairman of the Carson City Democratic Party.  “He was able to pull independents and Republicans in a pretty conservative congressional district to his side.”