Mike Gravel

Libertarian presidential nominee hopeful Wayne Allyn RootLAS VEGAS—Las Vegas’ very own presidential candidate, Wayne Allyn Root, learned last week that his race for the Libertarian Party’s nod for the presidency has gotten a bit harder.  Announcing his resignation from the Democratic Party, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel has cast his lot with the Libertarians and is now seeking the nomination that until recently seemed headed Root’s way.

Root, reached for comment today, sounded unconcerned about Gravel’s entry and even optimistic about what it could mean for the Libertarian Party.

“[Gravel]’s not a Libertarian,” said Root.  “There’s nothing about him that is Libertarian.  I don’t think the Libertarian Party has any interest in a senator that was defeated twenty-five years ago who doesn’t believe in anything that resembles Libertarian philosophy.”

This is obvious, but still noteworthy: the last time the Democratic presidential candidates were in Nevada for a nationally televised debate was in November -- a virtual circus that included seven presidential candidates. Now, as the Democrats return to Las Vegas on Tuesday for their final debate before the January 19 caucus, just three candidates will participate: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama.

Sen. Hillary Clinton speaks to Clark County Democrats at annual Jefferson-Jackson dinnerMore than 2,000 Democrats helped raise an estimated $300,000 for Clark County Democrats at a post-debate Jefferson-Jackson dinner at the Paris Hotel that attracted eight Democratic presidential candidates.

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean took advantage of the partisan audience – still pumped with excitement from the nationally-televised presidential debate at UNLV – to take a few shots at the Republican field for their lack of diversity.

“When you look at our candidates,” said Dean. “We look like America. The Republicans look like America in the 1950s. They are the party that is looking backwards; we’re the party that is looking forwards. And when they open their mouths, they sound like they’re from the 1850s.”

All eyes will be fixed squarely on Las Vegas this Thursday at 5:00PM as the Nevada State Democratic Party and CNN host the Democratic candidates (minus Mike Gravel who has been excluded) in yet another debate.

On the eve of a national Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, a CNN/Opinion Research poll of Nevada Democratic caucus-goers shows Hillary Clinton over the magic 50% mark for the early January 19 caucus in the Silver State. Clinton leads Barack Obama by a 51%-23% margin, with John Edwards at 11%.

The other Democratic candidates are still polling in single digits: Bill Richardson (5%), Joe Biden (4%), and Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich (1%). Christopher Dodd has less than 1% of the vote in the poll released earlier today.

"Clinton's advantage among Democratic caucus-goers appears to be based on the perception that she is the most electable candidate and the strongest leader in the field," said Keating Holland, the CNN Polling Director.

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel speaks during a forum at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute: Getty Images Photo

While the other Democratic presidential candidates debate at UNLV Thursday, former Alaska Sen. and bottom-tier presidential candidate Mike Gravel will be at the Paris Hotel hosting his own “alternative debate.”  Excluded by CNN for worse than lackluster fundraising and armed with a Tivo, a streaming webcast and a healthy dose of scorn for certain other Democratic candidates, Gravel will answer questions for the public as they are asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and then will comment on the other candidates’ answers.