How blue will Nevada turn in 2008?

For an excellent summary of the newest voter registration numbers, check out this story posted by our Politicker Staff.

The breakdown by congressional district is frightening for the GOP. 

In already Democratic CD-1, Democrats held a 49.3 to 31.6 partisan registration advantage in January. By August the margin grew by nearly 6 percentage points to 52.2 to 28.7 percent.  For some odd reason, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Las Vegas) still campaigns like she's ten points down.  Just go to some random flapjack breakfast or ANY veterans event in the district and odds are she's there. 

U.S. Rep. Jon Porter (R-Henderson) is in the fight of his life in CD-3.  The most troubling sign for the incmbent has been the registration momentum: From January to August, Democrats added nearly 18,700 active voters to the rolls while Republicans added nearly 3,000.  The Dems now enjoy a 43-37 registration lead in what was drawn as an even district. The challenger isn't helping things for Porter - state Sen. Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) has campaigned in a smart, focused manner.  Give the national pundits a few weeks and they will begin to say that this is Titus' race to lose, because it is.

Even U.S. Rep. Dean Heller (R-Carson City) has to work for it this year.  That comfy 11-point registration advantage he had in January shrank by 4 percentage points, leaving him with no choice but to show up and campaign.  The odds are that Jill Derby will not prevail, but this is a Democratic year like no other.

The GOP would have a tough time in Nevada this year if they were well-funded and well-organized.  So far, they have not made headlines for being either.