Nevada political roundup: The bailout, Obama up in battlegrounds

By J. Patrick Coolican

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008 | noon

Buy! Buy! Buy!

Sell! Sell! Sell!

I have no money, so can’t participate in this great historic moment of panic, but it is fun watching!

The Sun’s Lisa Mascaro looks at how Nevada’s delegation voted on the failed $700 billion bailout, er, rescue, and finds an interesting split, with Berkley and Heller opposed, and Porter for it.

Tough quote from Porter: “For those who aren’t able to see this, they’re blind,” he said of the threat to the economy if the bailout does not occur. “I’m hoping they will open their eyes.”

In an a snooty East Coast “analysis” piece, Coolican looks at the polls and sees movement toward a pro-bailout, er, rescue consensus, which might make Porter look smart. He needs to shake up this race, and he did so a bit yesterday.

Related: Brian Eckhouse reports on $72 million that valley governments are getting to help neighborhoods blighted by the foreclosure mess.

The money will be used to restore foreclosed homes, after which lower and moderate income folks will get a chance to move in.

Joe Schoenmann watches the debate between Brian Scroggins and Steve Sisolak to fill Bruce Woodbury’s County Commission seat.

Michael Mishak looks at Weber vs. Larry Brown for the Chip Maxfield County Commission seat.Everyone's getting rich off Larry Brown.

Mark Barabak of the LA Times parachutes in and finds the Dems on a roll. But note this anecdote, via Ralston:

"'He'll do everything -- no offense to the Negroes -- for the Negroes and cut the whites down to nothing,’ the retired casino worker, 67, said between errands in downtown Reno. She doesn't like McCain any better and may stay home on election day.”

Reno.

Barabak finds all the trends working for the Dems, but notes the race here is still too close to call.

-- In case you missed it, here’s Ralston’s Sunday column on judging Friday night’s debate:

-- AP says a McCain visit has been canceled.

-- Speaker Barbara Buckley had her first forum. People had ideas about new taxes and a state lottery, the R-J reports. (We’ll be following up in the Sun.)

-- Bob Loux resigned.

-- Anjeanette live-blogged this morning’s Obama Reno visit.

-- Obama is up by 10 in the battleground states.

This is sort of a weird poll, however, because he could be up by 12 in some battlegrounds but by 2 in others, so I'm not sure how useful it is.