Horsford sets a lofty goal

Michael J. Mishak

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007 | 7:03 a.m.

Democratic Party activists are fans of state Sen. Steven Horsford, but his claim that 100,000 Democrats will turn out for next year's presidential caucus has many of them wishing he'd kept his mouth shut on that one.

Democratic activists and some state party officials say that Horsford's 100,000 figure set the bar impossibly high, and now any number short of that will be considered a failure.

One Democratic source went so far as to call the prediction "politically reckless."

Activists are concerned about how well the state will fare under the spotlight as the national media, well versed in the ways of Iowa and New Hampshire, descend on the Silver State with high expectations.

"Even on our best day, if we can get everybody out there, it's going to be nearly impossible," the source said. "We're going to look like a bunch of rubes and bumpkins."

Horsford said his prediction had been overhyped and that the number was merely an internal goal for the state party. Still, the figure was picked up by several national media outlets, and unfortunately, it is on par with Iowa's record turnout in 2004 - which means it will be a measuring stick for Nevada.

In an interview, Horsford reset expectations, saying that Democrats were committed to driving turnout for next year's caucus and that the total would easily surpass the 9,000 voters who turned out for Nevada's 2004 contest.

"I don't know if we would say 100,000," he said. "Any number greater than 9,000 and as high as we can possibly get is the goal."

Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid said the original estimate was reasonable, pointing to Democratic turnout in last year's primary. Nearly 120,000 Democrats voted in the governor's race.

"One-hundred thousand isn't real aggressive," Reid said. "It's not shooting for the stars."

But a caucus is not a primary. There's no early voting or absentee balloting. On caucus day, Democrats will gather at a specific time and publicly declare their support for a candidate, a process that can sometimes last several hours.

Both critics and Democratic officials agree that education is critical. And the state party is set to roll out its caucus education drive in the near future.

Horsford pointed to big turnouts over the weekend at Las Vegas events featuring Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards as evidence that voters are tuned in to the political process and eager to participate.

"We expect that momentum to continue to build," he said. "People are engaged."