POLITICAL MEMO:

Nevada Democrats’ machine is well-oiled

McCain camp denies it’s ‘behind the eight ball’

Sam Morris

DEMOCRAT Manita Rawat, a delegate from Las Vegas: “It was a very emotional experience. While I did support Obama from the very beginning, to watch Hillary do what she did was so gracious. She did it with so much dignity and class and just paved the way for women for the future.” REPUBLICAN Lorraine Marshall, a delegate from Las Vegas: “Sarah Palin last night? She delivered. Everyone was up in their chairs and dancing. It was tremendous. I’m having a blast. I don’t know so much if it’s important she’s a Republican woman rather than just being a woman.”

By Michael Mishak (contact)

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 | 2 a.m.

THE DEMOCRATS

THE REPUBLICANS

61,700 -- Democrats’ edge in registrations over Republicans, statewide

98,400 -- Democrats’ edge in registrations over Republicans in Clark County

What it means: Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign has greatly increased the Democratic edge in newly registered voters in Nevada. But, as a spokesman for John McCain said, “Voter registration doesn’t mean votes,” and Republicans are traditionally more likely to vote.

Like two heavyweight boxers staring each other down at a weigh-in — but with one boasting a longer reach — the Democratic and Republican parties are primed for an eight-week fight to win Nevada in November.

By most accounts, the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, benefiting from the precinct-level organization it built for Nevada’s early caucus, has far outpaced that of Sen. John McCain in this battleground state. Volunteers registered thousands of voters in the wake of the Illinois senator’s acceptance speech in Denver, likely adding to the Democrats’ substantial registration edge.

McCain’s campaign, whose presence was been more felt on the air than on the ground here, was energized with the nomination of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for vice president. Palin, a rock-ribbed social conservative, has motivated a new wave of volunteers into McCain headquarters, a spokesman said, and another registration push was planned this weekend.

For now, Democrats outnumber Republicans by 61,700 voters statewide. In Clark County, Democrats have nearly doubled their registration edge over Republicans since January, claiming 98,400 more voters. The county election department is now processing between 7,000 and 8,000 registrations a month, most of them submitted by Democrats and their allies, Registrar Larry Lomax said.

Over Labor Day weekend, Obama’s campaign deployed more than 1,000 volunteers in a statewide voter registration drive. The campaign had said it hoped to beat the previous weekend’s record of 1,500 registrations, and it did. Volunteers registered 4,200 Nevadans.

“I think people are charged up,” said Terence Tolbert, Obama’s state director. “Our numbers get better and better ... People are signing up and moving mountains.”

The campaign has 13 offices statewide and plans to open another seven by month’s end. It also employs 75 paid staff, overseen by six regional field directors.

Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, are boasting about their organizational advantage and openly taunting Republicans. Reid, speaking to reporters last month, mused about the demise of the Nevada Republican Party and fired a shot directly at McCain’s campaign. “McCain is basically doing nothing,” he said. “Obama has this state really well organized, and frankly, John McCain has no grass-roots operations whatsoever.”

McCain spokesman Rick Gorka disagreed, saying the campaign runs an “aggressive” volunteer recruitment and voter registration effort seven days a week but declining to provide specifics. Palin’s nomination, he said, will bring new volunteers to the campaign.

“We are by no means behind the eight ball or behind the Democrats in any organizational efforts,” Gorka said. He added: “Voter registration doesn’t mean votes. We are incredibly confident in our ability to turn our voters out.”

Indeed, Republicans are traditionally more reliable voters. The campaign is also focusing on absentee voting, placing robo-calls to voters reminding them to request mail ballots.

Nevertheless, both parties place premiums on organization — and some longtime Republicans say the Democratic machine could make the difference in races up and down the ballot. After a banner year in 2002, when Republicans swept the constitutional offices, the GOP allowed its machine, built by veteran field operative Steve Wark, to atrophy. Because McCain did not campaign in Nevada during the primaries, his organization was slow to take root. That, combined with a weakened state party, could prove fatal, Wark said.

“His campaign, despite itself, resurrected itself less than a year ago, which is amazing,” he said. “But a field organization takes far longer to grow and oftentimes it has grown organically. From a time standpoint, the campaign would never have the time to get that kind of thing together.”

Another challenge for Republicans: The national Democratic Party has targeted two of the state’s three congressional districts with financial and strategic help.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved $916,000 in television advertising time in the 3rd Congressional District on behalf of state Sen. Dina Titus, who is challenging Rep. Jon Porter, a three-term incumbent. The committee is also promising help in the 2nd Congressional District to Jill Derby, running against Rep. Dean Heller.

The Democratic intensity, particularly in the 3rd Congressional District, could pose a considerable threat to Republicans such as state Sen. Joe Heck, whose district resides in the center of the storm.

Still, Republican operative and Heck campaign manager Robert Uithoven cautioned Democrats against getting too cocky. “There’s still an enormous amount of work to do, but this is when it gets exciting,” he said. “When all is said and done, this is a margin-of-error (presidential) race.”

Other candidates, such as Heck, will benefit from voters splitting their tickets, he said.

That was apparent Thursday, as union organizers visited members’ homes in an age-restricted neighborhood on behalf of Obama.

The results were not very heartening for Tracy Griffin and her husband, Rich, both letter carriers. Voters split between McCain and Obama, with the rest undecided or refusing to say whom they would support. It was clear Palin’s speech resonated in some union households.

“Did you watch last night?” said one man, his face hidden behind a locked screen door. “She was top dog. She was outstanding. If Hillary had talked like her, I would have voted for her.”

Thus, Obama’s campaign is leaving nothing to chance. It plans to host a steady stream of surrogates in Nevada to highlight the differences between the two tickets. Among the topics of discussion for a women’s round-table Saturday: equal pay, abortion rights and family leave.

Registration efforts will continue through Oct. 4, the last day organizers can submit forms to county election departments. “Leave no stone unturned,” Tolbert said. “There are still doors to be knocked on and people to persuade. Everyone needs to be given a reason.”

Sun reporter Alexandra Berzon contributed to this story.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

By texexnv

9/7/08 at 10:01 a.m.

Suggest removal

"...also promising help in the 2nd Congressional District to Jill Derby.." Translation: Jillo is on her own as the Dems will concentrate totally on getting Titus elected. Which is the smart thing to do considering the closeness of registered voters Titus enjoys in CD3. Why waste resources in CD2 when Jillo is just yesterday's retread?
By TurnNevadaBlue

9/7/08 at 2:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

Speaking on behalf of the volunteers in Assembly District 13, yes we are out in full force and registering tons of Democrats. The amount of enthusiasm and energy from people of all socio and economic backgrounds is truly inspiring. All of the issues at stake in this campaign effect each one of us and it is critical that we stand up together to make a change.

Make your voice heard by registering to vote and following through on election day November 4.
By neiman1

9/8/08 at 5:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

Well oiled is another name for union and special interest funded. The regular voter is not going to buy into an economic plan that will destroy Nevada. Locking up our energy resources and driving business to bankruptcy is not an economic plan to anyone but Pelosi and her puppet harry Reid.
By Gordon

9/8/08 at 8:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Neiman: Gibbons is republican, GWB is republican, and our economy is in the tank. So please elaborate how the Democrats will destroy our economy. Bill Clinton presided over the best economy in our history, GWB the worst. Yeah you are making alot of sense.....
By Brittanicus

9/8/08 at 2:25 p.m.

Suggest removal

Personally I don't trust either Obama, McCain, Palin, Biden or any one of our elected politicians.

All they want to do is get elected and it will be basically more of the same, as the corporate donors call the shots. Time will quickly tell, if there is any real change in Washington?

When the American taxpayer is feeding, housing and giving free health care, to anybody who slips across the border. To pay for these expenditures, property taxes accelerated continuously. When our administration and those before them, allow the export of billions of dollars to Mexico and other third world countries. No wonder our nation is on the edge of a wilting economic precipice?

Even without the war in Iraq, President Bush would have devastated our wavering economy. Mr. Bush nearly forced an illegal immigration AMNESTY on the hurting US taxpayer. But the people screamed loud and clear. NO path to citizenship. No AMNESTY!

If we must have GUEST WORKERS for any job's that American supposedly 'Won't Do..? Then they must not expect or receive any path to citizenship. Everything smells of corporate intervention, where the large money grants reside?

The international globalists don't live in the world regular Americans live in, so issues like illegal alien crime, pollution, energy shortages don't bother their lifestyles.

That's why the US Chamber of Commerce will endow on us with a path to citizenship for millions of illegal alien families. AMNESTY! That means the Casino's will get tons of cheap labor, and US citizens can carry on hunting around for a job that is rightfully theirs. I actually read this in an entertainment magazine, that even some pit bosses are here in the United States illegally?

According to the (1986) Immigration Control act. Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A): they broke Federal law. It states, "..a person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government)

We will be expected to support them. Forcibly assigned mandates to us to feed, house and give free health care to, that Americans cannot afford themselves. Look around you! Diversity, multiculturalism and finally balkanization will cause OVERPOPULATION.

A 50% increase in people. But what about the millions, just waiting to scramble across our undermanned border? Unless we make English a mandatory language, America will condemn itself to a third world catastrophe.

We are just importing even more poverty, which we will be supporting. If anything we need THE CREAM of engineers, scientists and PhD like other nations. Our Own people need help, instead of underwriting the impoverished around the world.

Only the uncensored truth will open your eyes at NUMBERSUSA, CAPSWEB Read Judicial Watch site about importing poverty into America, that taxpayers are forced to support and the coming nightmare of OVERPOPULATION.

Copy, Paste and Distribute Freely.
By boftx

9/8/08 at 4:59 p.m.

Suggest removal

The truth of the matter appears to be that in fact the Dems are better organized. I have had no contact from Republicans, but see a significant amount of propaganda from the Dems (and I am not including mailers in this).

In fact, my wife went to a Dem office on Sunday and was immediately put to work registering voters (she got 3 plus a volunteer).

I am registered as unaffiliated, but I can attest to the Dems being more visible.