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Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Dina Titus is one of those politicians who has been at the wrong place at the wrong time most of her public life, with one notable exception: 2008, when she rode the Obama wave to wash away Jon Porter’s congressional career.
With two months until Election Day this cycle, the Titus tides may have returned to form as the freshman congresswoman has no top-of-the-ticket help to offset a building GOP tsunami that may reanimate the career of Joe Heck, who drowned in the 2008 Democratic flood two years ago.
And judging by the overture to the post-Labor Day period when people start to pay attention — what, there are other races besides the U.S. Senate race? — Titus & Co. hope to plagiarize from the 2008 Democratic game plan that defeated state Sen. Heck. That strategy was cutthroat, expensive and intellectually dishonest — qualities that usually work well in campaigns and were devastatingly well executed by the Democrats last cycle.
But that was then. This year Titus has no one at the top to generate the kind of enthusiasm Barack Obama did among the faithful and independents to carry her over the finish line. She beat Porter by 5 percentage points in the 3rd Congressional District; Obama won the district by 13 points. Without him, she loses.
This year, it’s Reid-Reid at the top and somehow it doesn’t seem the same. I know Harry Reid. I know Rory Reid. Neither is Barack Obama.
So what does Titus do in a tossup race during a year in which most close contests, all other factors being equal, should break to the Republicans?
If there’s one thing you can say about Titus — and take it from someone who once declared her career over — she is resilient and adaptable. But her timing ... She spent session after session as state Senate minority leader, never getting the number of seats to be majority leader. The cycle she departed, Democrats took the majority.
In 2002, having had enough of being second fiddle to Bill Raggio, she decided to consider a bid for the Clark County Commission. But Rory Reid also decided he wanted the open seat, and she thought better of the idea, erroneously blaming Reid the Elder (who tried to discourage his son) from costing her a chance to escape Carson City.
In 2006, Titus tried to become the first female governor and ran against a congressional backbencher named Jim Gibbons. But Gibbons had the money and the issue — “Dina Taxes” — and narrowly defeated her despite a trifecta of scandals during the final weeks.
Despite my political obituary and despite passing on a congressional run in late 2007, Titus finally found propitious timing in 2008 when the Democrats, having tiered down to a little-known lawyer, lost their candidate to family issues. Titus jumped in and defeated Porter.
Fate had finally smiled on her. But fate is fickle, the economy imploded, and Titus is in serious jeopardy of becoming the state’s first one-term representative since David Towell nearly four decades ago.
So far, her approach — and that of her allies — has the distinct, unmistakable scent of desperation.
Claims that she voted for the bank bailout, which occurred before she was elected. Union ads that exhume distortions of Heck’s legislative record and his Social Security position. And a new Titus spot that takes one Heck statement out of context and then distorts a tax pledge he signed.
So this is where we have arrived with two months to go: Titus clearly thinks that unless she can scare people into believing that Heck is Sharron Angle, she cannot win. But Heck is not Angle, so it is unlikely to bear much fruit.
The good news for Democrats is Dina Titus is no Shirley Breeden, the cipher the Democrats used to erase Heck from the Legislature. She is tough, smart and resilient. Oh, and she also has about three times as much money as Heck, which might help.
Titus’ fortunes are inextricably linked to Harry Reid’s. It is amusing to think that the man she blamed for derailing her escape from Carson City eight years ago, who many fear may drag down the ticket, might actually save Titus. No, not Reid himself, but the infrastructure he has erected in the center of the state’s political activity this cycle — her congressional district, where all the major races will be decided.
On Nov. 2, we will know if the 3rd Congressional District is the right place at the right time for Titus once again, pushed to victory by the Democratic turnout machine, or if it will be the wrong place at the wrong time, as the GOP deluge submerges her hopes of a second term.
With just over eight weeks until the election, Democrats and the independents who voted for Barack Obama need a good reason to come to the polls. If Dina and Harry can provide one, they'll win. No matter how much you tear down your opponent, you still need to give the voters a reason to show up and vote for you. And so far, I haven't heard much from Dina that makes me want to take time from my Tuesday morning to vote for her.
Joe Heck isn't the Boogie Man; he isn't even Sharron Angle. You're not going to frighten us into voting for you over Joe. Give us your vision, Dina, and tell us why you're more than just an interchangeable back-bencher. Tell us what you plan to do in the next two years, and how it will help us, and our children. Then ask us to vote for you, and for that future. Show us you respect our judgment: motivate us.
I've got to thank Sherm Frederick for today's chuckle regarding this article, "hard to write with pom-poms in your hands.". http://bit.ly/apJlwT You're starting to earn the full visual Mr Ralston, pleated 1/2 skirt, knit sweater with a big blue "D", and bouncy little tennis shoes.
I'm surprised the excuse tour has already started, but you, being astutely aware of the political winds, clearly understand the landslide that is about to happen. It's just a measure of how high the score will be run up.
RA RA RA. November Is Coming !
watch out, Nevada912er... you might just be facing a lawsuit from the RJ over that link posting... silly teabagger... corporations aren't your friends!
The facts are clear - Dina Titus has been doing a wonderful job for NV C.D. #3 and there's no reason to replace this veteran law maker!
Heck needs to be utilizing his talents as a Doctor in Afghanistan - especially since Heck is for more war! Heck was a total Bush disciple and owes a big debt to our troops - he shouldn't even be in politics now!
So what exactly is the point of this column?
"And judging by the overture to the post-Labor Day period when people start to pay attention -- what, there are other races besides the U.S. Senate race? -- Titus & Co. hope to plagiarize from the 2008 Democratic game plan that defeated state Sen. Heck. That strategy was cutthroat, expensive and intellectually dishonest -- qualities that usually work well in campaigns and were devastatingly well executed by the Democrats last cycle."
Another reason to turn off the TV until after November 2. How much money will the media make of this?
Republicans charging a Democrat with "intellectual dishonesty" I'm not from Missouri but show me anyway ?
Don't count the Independent Barry Michaels out
Heck is an opportunist, just like Angle. He lost his reelection to the NV Senate in 2008. He gets into the Henderson mayoral race, loses that, looks into running for governor, oops, too much competition. Then he gets into the NV-3 race because Dina Titus is vulnerable. If Heck can't keep his NV Senate seat, nor win a suburban mayoral race, how does he think we will send him to Washington DC and give him even more power? My vote goes to Dina Titus.
Just because republicans say there is going to
be a landslide for republicans means nothing.
Republicans are still the minority party.
They don't have enough voters to beat Democrats
in Nevada.
They never stop lying and spinning to try to
get their way.
It won't work this time.
The party of NO caused too much damage to our
economy that voters will not forget.
Joe Heck wants to privatize Social Security.
This one issue will stop him cold.
Joe Heck is against health care reform.
Joe Heck is another greedy republican who
doesn't care about the middle class.
SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH CARE,
VOTE DINA TITUS.
Dina Titus - Another Incompetent Democrat that needs to be FIRED due to incompetence.
They are like flies on caca - they are everywhere.
Look for the wipe out in November as Democrats get slaughtered everywhere.
GREEDY LYING REPUBLICANS HAVE NO CHANCE.
George Bush, republican policy already failed.
Wer're not going back to republican crooks and
thieves.
NO WAY, NO HOW.
VOTE DINA TITUS.
Why is it that the ever so loyal boot licking bloggers, for the miserable failure republicans, have such an adolescent attitude?
Are they and their goose stepping leadership becoming the Bart Simpson's of our society?
Why do these "Things" so willing support a dysfunctional political party-the republicans?
Do these supporters look at their failed party as sports figures? Where is there fact forming opinions? Do they really care about the issues that are important to others--families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers?
Why do they vote against their own interests?
Why do these "Things" have no "SHAME?"
Anyone who thinks Sharron Angle's ads are
taken out of context are dumber than she is.
Please don't vote.
SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY, VOTE DINA TITUS.
The Democrats lied about the health care bill. Their leftist policies have failed. We have the highest unemployment and backruptcy rate. Titus and Reid both need to go!!!!!!!
Teamster, you obviously are not aware of Obama's fiscal commission which has already been talking changes to social security and medicare which will further erode those programs.
Every time I pay my vehicle registration fees I think of Dina Titus because she voted consistently to raise them. Every time I go to a live concert and have to pay extra for my beverage of choice I think of Dina Titus who voted for the largest tax increase in Nevada history. The only way I want to think of Dina Titus any more is unemployed.
A run of political bad luck,eh?
Too bad she unseated a fairly conservative but very dull representative in John Porter.
With any luck she can go back to indoctrinating the youth of Vegas at UNLV next semester.
The last thing Nevada needs is another
republican who wants to cut every program
that helps every Nevadan.
NO THANK YOU.
VOTE DINA TITUS.
Moogle, the voters will send Heck to DC for no other reason than he isn't Dina Titus.