2008 Caucus Guide

Chris Morris / Las Vegas Sun

For the first time, Nevada’s Democrats and Republicans will have a chance to play a stronger role in who the nominees will be for president by being among a select group of states picked to hold primaries and caucuses in January.

Caucus 101: A basic guide on how to participate. Or, read more about the logistics of Jan. 19.

By being one of the early states, Nevada’s caucuses are hoped to gain the state more national attention, bring in more presidential candidates and thus raise awareness of Western issues. More background...

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Interactive Graphic: Clark County Political Breakdown

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From The Politics Blog

Las Vegas voting experience: Albertson's, banana bread and a beauty queen: During early voting at Albertson's, 2011 Miss Nevada Alana Lee cast her ballot -- amid no fanfare.

Buzzfeed: Romney campaign exaggerates size of Nevada event with altered image: http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/romney-campaign-appears-to-exaggerate-size-of-neva

Oscar Goodman saddened at the death of his friend and mentor Arlen Specter: Oscar Goodman was a young law student looking for work when he met Arlen Specter in Philadelphia.

Watchdog group hounds government for files on Ensign case: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a formal complaint this week to force the DOJ to turn over files collected during its now-defunct ...

Ron Paul, Mitt Romney delegates stand at the ready: GOP chairman Reince Priebus officially gaveled open the 2012 Republican National Convention today, only to immediately close it for a day-long recess. Even though the ...

Nevada alternate delegate compares national conventions past and present: For Nevada politico Patty Cafferata, the intrigue, plotting and wariness among opposing factions at a national convention is nothing new. Cafferata has been attending conventions ...

Senate passes tax cut extension for those earning $250,000 or less: Democrats in the Senate faced down the closest thing to a legislative dare from Republican leaders Wednesday and passed a tax cut extension for those ...

Senate observes moment of silence in honor of Colorado shooting victims: Sen. Harry Reid led the Senate in a moment of silence Monday afternoon for the moviegoers who died in a horrific shooting in Aurora, Colo., ...

Politics Stories

Photo: The Nevada State Legislature building is shown in

Few big tax bills afoot, but plenty of little ones at Nevada Legislature: Politics:; By Anjeanette Damon; Democrats may have fallen short of crafting a comprehensive tax reform plan to address Nevada’s wobbly revenue structure, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a bevy bills to raise taxes floating around the Legislature this year.

Photo: Sen. Harry Reid whispers to Sen. Dean Heller durin

IRS scandal reopens rift over Obamacare; Nevada lawmakers entangled: Politics:; By Karoun Demirjian; With just over six months to go until the Affordable Care Act is online, Congress was supposed to be done arguing over repeals and instead be focused on making sure the system rolls out on schedule. But the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups has reopened the rift.

Miller under attack as he pursues campaign finance reform: MEMO FROM CARSON CITY:; By Andrew Doughman; An out-of-state conservative group wants you to call Democratic Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller and tell him that you’re “sick of his costly hypocrisy.” But that group doesn't have to disclose its campaign contributions.

Photo: A view of the Nevada State Legislature building in

Legislature might get messy near the end: POLITICS:; By Anjeanette Damon; The Nevada Legislature has reached the point in every session when lawmakers, lobbyists and reporters ask: Is it going to end on time? And the answer always is: Maybe.

Panel finalizes plan to send $37.5 million more to Southern Nevada colleges: Legislature 2013:; By Andrew Doughman; The four Northern Nevada colleges and universities in the Nevada System of Higher Education would receive less money during the next two years, according to the new higher education funding formula plan legislators approved Saturday.

Photo: Nevada Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson, R-

Bills live and die on deadline day in Carson City: Legislature 2013:; By Anjeanette Damon; The legislative grim reaper struck again Friday as the Nevada Legislature hit yet another milestone on the 120-day march to its finish.

Photo: Presidential candidate John Edwards toasts Star Ho

Last-minute amendment could create the state drink: Legislature 2013:; By Andrew Doughman; Lawmakers killed a bill earlier this year that would’ve made the Blue Weimaraner the state dog, but Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, now has a measure to make the Basque alcoholic beverage Picon Punch the official state drink.

Reid, Sandoval among heavy hitters going to bat for compromise NV Energy bill: Politics:; By Andrew Doughman; NV Energy’s plan to shut down coal plants in Nevada moved forward today with strong support from some of Nevada’s most influential politicians and business interests.

Amendment adds expiration date for proposed sales tax hike: By Cy Ryan; A bill permitting the Clark County Commission to increase the sales tax to support the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has been approved by the Senate Revenue and Economic Committee.

Former Sen. John Ensign hit with fine over contributions: By Karoun Demirjian; The Federal Election Commission announced Friday a $32,000 fine against former U.S. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and his former campaign committee treasurer, Lisa Lisker, for failing to disclose “excessive in-kind contributions” from Ensign’s parents.