By Jon Ralston

Wed, Jul 9, 2008 (2:04 a.m.)

Jill Derby is excited. The Democratic congressional contender, making her second run against Rep. Dean Heller, has been exuberant since last week. First, we got a release gushing about how her race had been upgraded by national pundit Charlie Cook, who saw the district as “likely Republican” — slightly better than “solid Republican.” Giddiness ensued. Then came two releases Tuesday. One announced a new Web site, and it is a nice site (www.jillderby.com). The other took Heller’s words in the Sun wrapping paper suggesting Republicans clean house and wondered whether the 92 percent-supportive Republican was calling for his own ouster. Nice. I was almost giddy myself.