Print edition for November 8, 2006

Democrats wonder what might have been: By Tony Cook; After surprisingly strong - but ultimately unsuccessful - performances in Nevada's traditionally Republican congressional districts, Democratic leaders awoke today plagued by Wednesday morning political quarterbacking thoughts of what might have been.

Editorial: Democrats close the gap: Governor-elect Jim Gibbons won the office Tuesday night, narrowly beating state Sen. Dina Titus, and he carries some heavy baggage that dogged his campaign: a Metro Police investigation into his alleged assault of a woman on Oct. 13; questions about his hiring an illegal immigrant as a nanny, and charges that he used his influence to help direct federal contracts to a friend who took Gibbons, his wife and son on a lavish Caribbean cruise worth an estimated $14,000.

To govern, Gibbons must acquire new skills, survive investigations: By J. Patrick Coolican; Governor-elect Jim Gibbons showed tremendous endurance as he withstood a barrage of negative publicity at the close of his campaign against state Sen. Dina Titus.

Letter: Another reason not to vote early: Instead I would have voted against all the intrusive, pain-in-the-neck, antagonistic, idiotic, money-wasting, irritating, self-serving wannabe public servants.

Letter: Past athletes cut from different cloth: The athletes named in the feature, all from past sports eras, are a tribute to our country.

How the Nevada exit poll was conducted: AP; The survey included an exit poll of Election Day voters and telephone interviews with those who voted early or absentee.

Timothy Pratt on his experiences of voting in Colombia, the right to vote and how, in some parts of the world, casting your ballot is an act of courage: I was embarrassed to find myself crying.

Nevada moderates back Titus, Gibbons wins rural vote: AP; GOVERNOR'S RACE: Democratic state Sen. Dina Titus won support from union members and moderates, while Republican U.S. Rep. Gibbons did better among rural Nevada voters and those who support the Iraq war. Both candidates won more than 8 in 10 votes from their own parties.

Editorial: Mandate for change: Democrat Tessa Hafen narrowly lost her bid to upset Republican Jon Porter in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, a tossup race, but enough Democrats elsewhere in the nation won to give them control of the House for the first time since 1994. Also late Tuesday evening, Democrats were close to picking up the six Republican seats they needed to gain a majority in the Senate, particularly good news for Nevada's Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate. While Republican senators elsewhere in the country had tough contests, Nevada Sen. John Ensign easily beat Jack Carter.

Jeff Haney on blackjack card counters' cat-and-mouse game with the casinos: By Jeff Haney; The most revealing scene in the documentary "The Hot Shoe" illustrates the vast philosophical divide between card counters and those in the casino industry trying to stop them.

TAKE FIVE: SCOTT SCHONECK: The glitz and glamour of Las Vegas couldn't be more of a contrast to Abbey, Saskatchewan, which Wranglers defenseman Scott Schoneck calls home.

Letter: Kerry can't pull his foot from his mouth: What Kerry forgot was the word "us" before the word "stuck." Then it would have made sense , and could have been thought a joke. When that was cleared up I still wondered how Kerry thought he could get away with making that joke, since 1) he voted for the invasion, and has continued to vote appropriations for it, and, 2) he and President Bush went to the same Ivy League college where Mr. Bush had a higher GPA.

FLASHPOINT for Nov 08, 2006: Keep your eye on the Clark County Commission in the postelection world, folks. For those with historical perspective or institutional knowledge - that is, you are old like me - it has not been this volatile in two decades. I covered the county as a reporter 20 years ago and subsequently watched various iterations - or should I call them battlefields? Karen Hayes versus Paul Christensen. Don Schlesinger versus Paul Christensen. Erin Kenny versus everyone. Those were tumultuous times. But now, with a union-friendly panel for the first time in decades and with a force of nature named Chris Giunchigliani, ...

Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton: Wayne Newton is going to tell a story, and it’s not about his playing poker with Sinatra, recording with Bobby Darin or counseling Elvis about his divorce. It’s about the day he realized Vegas was home. It speaks volumes about Newton, 50 years a Vegas showman and now headlining through April in what might be his final residency in Las Vegas, the autobiographical “Once Before I Go” at the Tropicana.

Jon Ralston on how the postelection political picture is coming into focus: I have no idea about the specifics, as I pen this before a single result has come in - early deadlines, the bane of a columnist's existence!

With Gillespie as sheriff, officers will see little change: With Gillespie as sheriff, officers will see little change

Gibbons wins governorship after riding out scandals: AP; GOVERNOR'S RACE: Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons got the benefit of the doubt over allegations of sexual impropriety Tuesday, eking out a victory in the governor's race after winning nearly half the female vote. He also won about half of men's votes, compared with two of five men who voted for Democratic state Sen. Dina Titus. Gibbons did better among rural Nevada voters and those who support the Iraq war. Both candidates won about eight in 10 votes from their own parties.