Analyst: Shift away from Dems leaves Dina Titus race a ‘toss-up’

By Lisa Mascaro

Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 | 12:52 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Southern Nevada congressional district held by Democratic Rep. Dina Titus is now a “toss-up” heading into the fall election, according to the Cook Political Report.

“This is shaping up to be the worst year for Nevada Democrats in memory,” writes Cook’s David Wasserman, who analyzes House races for the publication.

Wasserman moved Titus and 14 other Democratic-held seats nationwide toward Republicans, saying “we no longer see the incumbents as clear favorites.”

Wasserman cites the difficult climate for Democrats, but also Titus’ own shortcomings, noting that she won her first term in 2008 with 47 percent of the vote in a year that was a wave for Democrats.

“Titus has serious negatives of her own,” Wasserman writes. “Titus's reputation as a partisan, going back to her days as a state legislative leader, is a serious liability right now.”

Titus is the first Democrat to represent the district she won in 2008, beating then-Rep. Jon Porter, the Republican who held the seat since it was created in 2002.

Titus has worked hard in Washington to hew to a more moderate line – registering no votes on the health care bill when it was in her committee, for example, until taxes on middle-income families could be reduced.

She also has sponsored legislation to provide small business owners greater access to low-priced health insurance and avoid fines for not covering their employees.

The district has always had a high rate of transiency, with families moving in and out of the region, making it difficult for elected officials to form a close bond with voters. Democrats held a higher voter registration advantage in 2008, but statewide, Democrats are losing voters to independents.

At least two Republicans are vying in the primary to challenge her – former state Sen. Joe Heck and businessman Rob Lauer.