Friday, Aug. 18, 2006 | 9:10 a.m.
On Saturday the Democratic National Committee will hold the final vote to determine if Nevada will be selected as the second state in the nation to cast votes for our next Democratic presidential nominee. The decision of the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee to add two new states to the pre-window period of the presidential contest was the right one. The new primary calendar reflects the diversity of our great country and will serve to strengthen our presidential candidates.
There has been much reaction and public discussion on the merits of adding another caucus state - much of it focused on Nevada. States that oppose the new calendar have used stereotypes in an effort to derail Nevada from being selected as an early caucus state. Unfortunately, this discussion has been a disservice to the hard-working men and women who choose Nevada as their home and does not reflect the character of our state.
Nevada is the fastest-growing state in the country. Thousands of people move to Nevada each month with the promise of making a better life for their families. They come from all over the country - the West, the Midwest, the South and the Northeast. They live in neighborhoods just like the thousands of neighborhoods across the country.
It's a melting pot in its truest form. And its people reflect the character and values of America.
We worship at churches of every denomination. We live in cities and in suburbs, on ranches and in small towns. From the urban population centers in the South to the high-desert cities and towns of Northern Nevada, to the rural communities and attitudes found everywhere in between, Nevada is a perfect test of viability for a presidential candidate.
Many Nevadans belong to a union. Union density is the highest of all the desert and Rocky Mountain states with nearly 14 percent of working Nevadans belonging to a union. An early caucus in Nevada will ensure that the issues important to the millions of working men and women across the country are at the forefront of the presidential debate.
Many Nevadans are veterans or family members of military personnel stationed here. Nevada is home to three major military installations and the Nevada Test Site. Nevada is also home to the third largest percentage of veterans in the United States, making Nevada a perfect testing ground for Democrats to debate national security.
Nevada is a state rich with diversity with a voting age population that is 34 percent minority. Voters of all ethnic backgrounds live in Nevada and an early presidential caucus will give them a greater voice. Nevada's Hispanic population is growing, comprising 19.6 percent of the voting age population and almost 23 percent of the general population. An early caucus in Nevada will ensure the issues important to racially and ethnically diverse communities are thoroughly debated by candidates running for the Democratic nomination.
The future of the Democratic Party's ability to win presidential campaigns is in the West. An earlier push and more attention to core party and Western issues - such as immigration, water, land use, border and national security - could make the difference in the next presidential election, not only in Nevada but also in the West .
The DNC has taken a positive step in expanding the pre-window period to include states that actually look like America. The new calendar will offer candidates an opportunity to debate issues that affect all Americans, and our candidates will be stronger and more prepared for the general election.
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