From the Sun’s Political Blog

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 | 7:25 a.m.

Reid's pronouncement: 100,000 caucusgoers

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar held a conference call this afternoon to discuss Thursday's Democratic presidential debate and the importance of the West in the race for the White House in 2008.

Reid, as the public face of the Nevada caucus, and Salazar, as the public face of the Democratic National Convention (set to be held in Denver), got off to a good start, talking about Nevada's labor density, diverse population and Western issues.

But when asked if the attention and preparation surrounding the Nevada caucus were meeting his expectations, Reid pronounced:

"We expect a turnout of 100,000 people. We think that's very doable. We feel very comfortable that what is happening in Nevada is very good. We're relatively new at this compared to Iowa, but I think Nevada will really be a proving ground for these candidates."

Nevada Democratic Party leaders and caucus organizers must have squirmed. They have worked for months to dial back expectations after initial reports, including a few in the Sun, quoted officials using the 100,000 figure.

After all, Democratic officials had good reason for concern. In 2004, Nevada's Democratic caucus attracted a record 9,000 voters. Iowa, on the other hand, attracted 124,000 voters for its Democratic caucus that year, representing the highest turnout in Iowa caucus history.

Another factor: Iowa has about 500,000 more people than Nevada and a long tradition of caucus-going, which attracts national media and the attention of a bevy of local newspapers that swim in presidential politics.

Pressed on the number later in the call, Reid said, "That's the number we've had from the very beginning. That's the number I've always used."

Democratic Party spokeswoman Kirsten Searer responded:

"Sen. Reid has seen the excitement in Nevada Democrats and seen the huge swing in voter registration, and he has great faith in the Nevada Democratic Party. We appreciate the high standards he sets for us, and we're going to do everything we can to meet them."

Bush sidelines $500,000 meant for Agassi Academy

WASHINGTON - President Bush's veto this morning of the labor, health, human services and education bill sidelines for now the $500,000 earmark for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a campus that serves some of the poorer parts of Las Vegas.

Bad news for the school, but a welcome victory for the anti-pork czars at Citizens Against Government Waste who counted the Agassi earmark as one of their marquee examples of excess spending.

Bush has vowed to continue vetoing the annual appropriations bills, saying Congress is spending too much.

But Democrats note that Bush turned a blind eye when Republicans were in charge of Congress, never once vetoing a spending bill when they routinely came in over budget.

Congress has little chance of overriding the veto after 19 Senate Republicans who originally supported the bill switched their votes last week.

Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign was not among the flip-floppers - he originally voted against the bill, as did Republican Rep. Dean Heller.

Supporting the bill was Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley, who tucked in the Agassi earmark on the House side, with support from Republican Rep. Jon Porter, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who inserted the spending request on the Senate side.

Freedom's Watch launches new conservative ad blitz

Freedom's Watch, the conservative advocacy group with ties to Las Vegas Sands Corp. chairman and world's sixth-richest man Sheldon Adelson, launched an ad campaign today in newspapers across the country, targeting seven members of Congress.

(The ads can be viewed at FreedomsWatch.com.)

Earlier this year, the group aired $15 million worth of TV ads in tossup congressional districts, including Nevada's 3rd District, where Republican Jon Porter faces a potentially tough challenge from Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas, who has tried the region's biggest cases.

The spots urged members of Congress to support the war in Iraq until victory is achieved, and the print campaign has a similar focus, saying congressional representatives should "stop playing politics" and "fund the troops." Porter is not a target in today's print campaign. The full-page ad features an open letter to a member of Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, penned by Andrew Robinson, an Iraq war veteran, who is pictured in a wheelchair.

The group has significant Nevada ties: Adelson has been a major contributor to the group, and Las Vegas image maven Sig Rogich, a Sands consultant, helped in the effort, which was meant to counteract resurgent American liberalism, and particularly MoveOn.org.

The five board members of Freedom's Watch include Sands President William Weidner.