Nevada: a likely hot spot in 2008 Democratic presidential race

Sunday, July 23, 2006 | 11:35 a.m.

The state of Nevada is likely to be a hub of attention in the Democratic presidential campaign. But it is sharply different turf from the cornfields of Iowa and the green hills of New Hampshire - two states that have dominated the start of presidential campaigns for the last three decades. Nevada has been recommended to hold an early caucus in the Democratic presidential calendar - after Iowa but before New Hampshire.

OVERALL: Nevada was a sparsely populated stretch of desert state that tourists had to get through on the way to California when the state legislature in 1931 legalized casino gambling and sparked growth in the Nevada desert that has continued to this day. The state also attracts other businesses such as credit card operations and distribution centers, and is popular for West Coast retirees.

POPULATION: The state has a population of more than 2.4 million - with most of the population concentrated in the southeastern corner of the state in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The state also has smaller population centers in the capital city of Carson City and nearby Reno, on the central western border with California.

ETHNIC DIVERSITY: Nevada is almost 23 percent Hispanic, almost 7 percent black and more than 6 percent Asian-Pacific Islander, according to Census figures.

ORGANIZED LABOR: About a quarter of Nevada voters in 2004 came from unions or union households, according to exit polls. They were more likely to support Democrat John Kerry than President Bush in that presidential election.

POLITICS: Democrat Bill Clinton carried the state narrowly in the presidential elections of 1992 and 1996, while George W. Bush beat Democrat Al Gore in 2000 by 50-46 and Bush beat Kerry by a 50-48 margin. But in the 1980s, Nevada strongly supported Ronald Reagan and supported George H.W. Bush in 1988. Nevada's state legislature is divided, with Democrats ruling the House and Republicans ruling the Senate. The governor is Republican Kenny Guinn.

TOP ISSUES: Along with the gambling industry, tourism and related economic issues, Nevada voters are most interested in the proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository - in the desert 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Potential presidential candidates are certain to be questioned by voters about the Yucca Mountain facility - scheduled to be opened in 2017. The federal government has proposed putting nuclear waste deep within Yucca Mountain in reinforced steel containers. Critics fear rainwater will flush the waste into the water supply far below the dump and the complain about the possibility of earthquakes and dangers from transporting waste cross-country.

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Sources: Democratic National Committee, U.S. Census; Almanac of American Politics, exit polls.