Sam Lieberman

LAS VEGAS-Yesterday, Ill. Sen. Barack Obama gained 26.5 superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, two of them from Nevada.

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto and state Democratic Party chairman Sam Lieberman endorsed Obama yesterday after polls closed in Montana at 7 p.m. PDT.

"I am endorsing Sen. Obama today because I feel it is now best for our party to unite behind him, and I believe he will make Nevada a top priority in his campaign," said Lieberman last night. "Moving forward, Barack Obama has the passion, integrity and ability to turn Nevada Blue and change the course of the country for the better."

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez-MastoLAS VEGAS-Nevada's Attorney General, Catherine Cortez-Masto, has endorsed Ill. Sen. Barack Obama for the Democrats' presidential nominee.

Cortez-Masto's endorsement came just after 7 p.m. PDT, as polls closed in Montana.

"It is now time for the Democratic Party to unite behind one candidate," said Cortez-Masto announcing the endorsement. "Through a unified Party we will defeat John McCain in November.  I look forward to working with Senator Obama to create positive change for the citizens of Nevada and the United States."

LAS VEGAS-Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus said today that she has not committed to running against Republican Congressman Jon Porter in the 3rd Congressional District, but that she is "giving it very serious consideration."

Titus' comments followed a surprise announcement this morning that former Clark County chief deputy district attorney Robert Daskas was ending his bid in CD3, citing "family considerations."

Titus said she has been communicating "quite intensely" for days with both local and Washington Democrats about the race, but that she hadn't wanted to discuss it with reporters until Daskas announced his withdrawal.

"It's a big, life-changing decision," said Titus.

LAS VEGAS-On the heels of Robert Daskas' surprising announcement that he was ending his congressional campaign today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's and the Nevada Democratic Party's chairmen, Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Sam Lieberman, have made it clear who they consider the best candidate to face Republican Congressman Jon Porter in the fall.

"Dina Titus would be an excellent candidate with unparalleled experience and support from people in Nevada's 3rd congressional district," said Van Hollen by e-mail. "Her vision, strength, and ability to get things done for Nevada would make her a powerful voice for change."

LAS VEGAS-The Pennsylvania Primary, hailed for seven weeks as a make-or-break contest in the ongoing Democratic nomination process, appears to have changed little, either nationally or here in Nevada.

With N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton lagging in pledged delegates, many analysts believe the only way she can secure the Democratic nomination is to convince superdelegates that Ill. Sen. Barack Obama is unelectable.  Her win in Pennsylvania, although it may have produced a net gain of 12 pledged delegates, does not appeare to have changed any Nevada superdelegates' minds, however.

CARSON CITY-The Nevada Democratic Party announced today that former Clark County Democratic chairman Charlie Waterman died this morning of a heart attack at the age of 79.

Nevada Democratic Party chairman Sam Lieberman issued a brief statement this evening saying "With great sadness I must inform you of the passing of former Clark County Chair Charlie Waterman."

"Our condolences to Helen and the family.  Charlie gave many years of dedicated service to the Democratic Party and touched the lives of multiple generations of Democratic activists.  He will be missed."

Democratic leaders announce new county delegate plan.: From left: Commissioner Rory Reid, convention chair Bill Stanley, former state Sen. Terry Care, county chair John Hunt, state Sen. Steven Horsford, state chair Sam LiebermanLas Vegas- Democratic Party leaders hosted a press conference this afternoon at the Thomas and Mack Center on the campus of UNLV to outline their new plan to elect Clark County delegates for their party’s state convention May 17-18. Chairman John Hunt kicked off the press conference with a solemn mea culpa for the chaos Clark County Democrats experienced at the aborted Feb. 23 county convention.

“The turnout was unprecedented,” said Hunt, “ten times more than any county convention has ever held in Clark. I want to apologize to all Democrats who were inconvenienced or frustrated.”

Hunt outlined the negotiations that had taken place over the last week among the Clark County Party, the Nevada Democratic Party, the Democratic National Committee and its Delegate Selection Committee and the two remaining Democratic campaigns to reach a plan for what he called “a fair and equitable election so that we can seat our delegates at the state convention in Reno.”

Carson City- Jill Derby resigned as Nevada Democratic chairwoman today and shortly afterward announced that she would again seek the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Dean Heller.

“My allegiance lies with those Nevadans,” said Derby, “Democrat, Republican, and Independent ­ who know that we can do better, and who are disappointed in the politicians who have lost sight of our values. It’s time to move past the same Washington politics that leaves Nevada families behind.”

Nevada's seven superdelegates: From top left to bottom right, Nev. Dem. Chair Jill Derby, former Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Gates, Nev. Sen. Minority Leader Dina Titus, Rep. Shelley Berkley, Nev. Dem. Vice-Chair Sam Lieberman, Sen. Harry Reid and state Sen. Steven HorsfordLas Vegas- Nevada Democrats may have taken their first step toward allotting their twenty-five pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention, but these are not the only Nevadans with a vote in Denver come August.  Nevada is also home to seven so-called “superdelegates,” party leaders who are free to vote for any candidate they choose at the convention.  Three of these superdelegates have endorsed either N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton or Ill. Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee, but the other four have pledged neutrality in the race, pledges that at this relatively late stage in the primaries are unlikely to be broken.

Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Nev. Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus (D-Clark 7) have endorsed Clinton and state Sen. Steven Horsford (D-Clark 4) has endorsed Obama.  The other four—Nevada Democratic Chairwoman Jill Derby, 1st Vice-Chairman Sam Lieberman, former Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Gates and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid—have declared neutrality until the party has chosen a nominee.

Click here to watch Berkley and Horsford discuss their candidates-of-choice after the Jan. 15 Las Vegas debate.