Jon Summers

LAS VEGAS- Andrew Martin's congressional campaign continued its attempts to take down Robert Daskas this weekend with a new press release titled "ANDREW MARTIN IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO CAN DEFEAT JON PORTER."  The people mentioned in the release question its accuracy, however.

The harshly worded release alleges that Daskas, the Democrat in the race who has received the support of much of Nevada's Democratic establishment, is "beholden to the Washington DC special interests" and makes disparaging claims about Daskas' performance at a Carpenters' Union endorsement meeting more than a week ago.

"In a recent meeting with the Carpenters Union, Mr. Daskas arrived over 20 minutes late and continued to ask his campaign manager for answers, question after question, during the endorsement meeting," said Martin spokesperson Vin Gopal in the release.  "If Mr. Daskas does not have the knowledge to answer questions in an endorsement meeting, how will he be able to go toe to toe with Mr. Porter during a debate?"

The Carpenters' Union's Nevada political director, Jim Sala, took issue with that characterization of Daskas' performance today, describing that portion of Martin's press release as "funny" and giving a quite different version of the events.

LAS VEGAS-Nevada's congressional delegation may be small, but it is energetic in bringing home the bacon to a cash-strapped state with a lot of needs. But critics are quick to label the programs that legislators steer towards their constituents as "pork projects."

According to the Citizens Against Government Waste 2008 Congressional Pig Book, Nevada's delegation has brought $158,779,895 worth of pork-barrel spending to the state in the 2008 fiscal year, fifteenth highest according to the per capita rankings.

According to the CAGW, Sen. Harry Reid leads the delegation with $259.5 million dollars in "wasteful spending." Next comes Sen. John Ensign with $92.5 million, Rep. Shelley Berkley with $46.7 million, Rep. Dean Heller with $31.8 and finally Rep. Jon Porter with $19 million. Much of that money, particularly in Reid's case, however, goes to defense or other spending that is not necessarily directed at Nevada.

Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue LowdenNevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden released a statement today regarding U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) sagging approval rating among Nevadans.

“Despite a self-imposed two week vacation for his ‘Do-Nothing Congress,’” said Lowden.  “It has not been a pleasant holiday for Harry Reid.  This most recent dismal approval rating is further proof that Nevadans are fed up with seeing their senior Senator opt to please the liberal base of his party rather than the needs of his constituents.”

Last week’s Reno Gazette-Journal poll put Reid’s approval rating at 39 percent, well down from the 53 percent he enjoyed upon election to minority leader in 2004.