Damon Political Report - Las Vegas Sun

Why Nevada GOP might be better off without an early caucus: Tuesday, February 14, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; The question begging to be asked in the wake of the Nevada GOP’s chaotic presidential caucus isn’t simply whether the Republican National Committee should bestow early-state status on Nevada ever again.

Anti-abortion group files third rewrite of ballot intiative: Tuesday, February 7, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; An anti-abortion group seeking to prohibit all forms of abortion has filed its third ballot initiative in an attempt to craft language that will pass legal muster.

Nevada GOP dealing with 'trouble box' of questionable ballots: Sunday, February 5, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; Republican Party officials are trying to figure out how to deal with a “trouble box” of ballots from the presidential caucus Sunday as the count in Nevada’s largest county stretches into its second day.

Vote count in GOP caucus continuing in Nevada's largest county: Sunday, February 5, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; The voting ended half a day ago. The networks have called the race. The GOP presidential candidates have delivered their speeches and left the state. And, still, party officials in Nevada’s largest county continue to count the vote.

Mitt Romney backs off rivals, turns his focus to Obama in Reno: Thursday, February 2, 2012; ELECTION 2012:; By Anjeanette Damon; Four years ago, Reno-area Republicans caucused overwhelmingly for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. On Thursday, hundreds of them packed a Reno convention hall for a speech many saw as key to their decision on whether to caucus for him again.

Why the fractured Tea Party movement failed to offer a presidential nominee: Thursday, February 2, 2012; Election 2012: Activists agree on whom not to choose, but they haven't put their own alternative in the race; By Anjeanette Damon; While the Tea Party in Nevada and elsewhere has had some small successes in local and congressional races, they are now so fractured that nominating a presidential candidate to carry their mantel is all but impossible.

Former Nevada Rep. Vucanovich: Gingrich too erratic, arrogant to be GOP nominee: Tuesday, January 31, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev., unleashed on her former colleague Newt Gingrich today, calling him erratic, arrogant and full of himself.

Santorum hires Nevada staff after near win in Iowa: Wednesday, January 4, 2012; politics:; By Anjeanette Damon; A day after his last minute near win in Iowa, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has hired staff in Nevada to put together an operation for him.

Santorum's surprise Iowa showing won't likely be repeated in Nevada: Wednesday, January 4, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; Nevada’s presumed front-runner in the Republican presidential primary, Mitt Romney, essentially shared a victory with come-from-behind candidate Rick Santorum in a razor-thin finish in the Iowa caucuses Tuesday night.

Clark County GOP ditches staggered start times; caucuses will begin at 9 a.m.: Tuesday, January 3, 2012; By Anjeanette Damon; Realizing that staggered start times could lead to even more voter confusion on caucus day, Clark County Republicans have settled on a uniform start time of 9 a.m. for the Feb. 4 presidential caucuses.

Democrats parody Gingrich after commandeering NewtGingrich.com: Wednesday, December 21, 2011; politics:; By Anjeanette Damon; Democrats, who have long focused their anti-Republican ire on Mitt Romney as the most likely challenger to President Obama are warming up against a secondary target: Newt Gingrich.

What's Ross Miller trying to say with that money?: Thursday, December 15, 2011; politics: Mid-cycle fundraisers raise questions about his political aspirations; By Anjeanette Damon; Secretary of State Ross Miller says a pair of fundraisers he held in Reno and Las Vegas this week were simply to replenish his campaign coffers. He’s still paying off bills from 2010 and he uses campaign funds to travel the state when his activities have any connection to politics, Miller said. Describing them as small-dollar fundraisers (the requested donation for the Reno event was $250), Miller said he doesn’t yet have his eye on any 2014 races.

AG accuses conservative operative Chuck Muth of violating campaign laws: Thursday, December 8, 2011; By Anjeanette Damon; Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has filed a civil complaint against a political organization run by well-known conservative operative Chuck Muth, accusing him of violating campaign finance laws by failing to report money he spent attacking Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, in last year’s election.

Amodei: Government can't keep paying for unemployment benefits: Wednesday, November 23, 2011; the economy:; By Anjeanette Damon; Acknowledging he’ll be labeled as “insensitive,” U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said this week he is inclined to let long-term unemployment benefits expire, a move that could kick more than 45,000 jobless Nevadans off of their unemployment checks.

Ethics Commission party may not have been so ethical: Wednesday, November 23, 2011; By Anjeanette Damon; A party in Carson City to celebrate the Nevada Ethics Commission’s 35th anniversary last week has some elected officials questioning whether the public’s watchdog is juggling stones in a glass house of public perception. As a way to recognize the often thankless task assigned to the Ethics Commission, its executive director, Caren Jenkins, organized the party at a Carson City barbecue joint.