Just how clueless do we have to be here?

Michael J. Mishak

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007 | 7:04 a.m.

John Edwards was dumbfounded.

The Democratic presidential aspirant had just finished a speech Saturday in Las Vegas and, with a throng of local reporters blocking his exit, he took a few questions.

"Why is Nevada receiving all this attention from presidential candidates?" a KVBC Channel 3 television reporter asked.

A puzzled Edwards gave a look that said: "It's the caucus, stupid."

He explained that presidential candidates were coming to Nevada to try to win votes. The Democratic National Committee had changed the schedule of the Nevada caucus, which state and national media have been reporting for six months.

Moreover, the reporter's own station had aired a preview of the weekend's political events the previous night, including the reason for the early visits.

Next came a pair of questions about health care and Iraq, two areas the former senator covered extensively in the 40-minute speech he had just delivered to about 250 people at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 357 union hall.

Then came this question: "Can you talk about energy?"

It deserved a simple "yes," but Edwards, with the look of a patient father, talked about America's addiction to oil.

The Nevada Democratic caucus is 11 months away. Voters are only starting to understand the candidates and the issues. But judging from Edwards' appearance Saturday, maybe this much is already clear: Nevada needs a better press corps.

After he answered the energy question, Edwards' campaign insisted (mercifully?) that the candidate had time for just one last question.

What about Yucca Mountain, a reporter asked. Where did the senator stand on the proposed nuclear waste repository?

Nice save.

Edwards said he opposes it. The government, he said, should look at alternatives.