NV-Gov, ind poll shows even race, as Titus builds momentum

Today's Las Vegas Sun reported an independent poll by Garin Hart Yang of the Nevada Governor's race that shows democratic nominee Dina Titus even with republican Jim Gibbons:

Titus 46, Gibbons 45. Based on phone interviews with 600 LVs, MOE = 4.

This result would appear to confirm the Zogby/ WSJ poll that showed her leading 47-44. Both campaigns have publicly acknowledged that internal polling shows the race within MOE.

This is in addition to other good news for Titus this week.

Saturday began the state's statewide co-ordinated campaign field effort which, for first time in recent history, will include rural counties as well as Clark and Washoe. The goal is to move more registered dems to the polls statewide than even the presidential election of 2004.

By contrast, last Friday's state supreme court ruling removing TASC (tax and spending control initiative) from ballot (and stripping out key provisions of anti-eminent domain ballot issue) removes a key element of GOP/conservative turnout strategy. Furthermore, the state republican party has been riven by  internal conflicts.  

Finally, the oft-mentioned financial edge for Gibbons is dissipating. This week began an influx of Dem presidential hopefuls to NV helping her raise money; Warner last week helped raise >$70K (as reported in todays' Review Journal; Edwards and DGA Chair Richardson will be in NV in this coming week; Feindgold, Vilsack, Kerry, Clinton are to follow.

This, as well as the the polling noted above, have allowed her to raise her fudnraising goal to compete with Gibbons,  whose campaign spent heavily on ads in August that many observers consider to have been effective.

•  Hate To Be The Official Wet Blanket...

  But I am pretty sure that this is a Titus poll. Garin-Hart-Yang is a pretty well-established Democratic polling operation.

  by Steve Singiser on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 04:56:00 PM PDT

  •  And

    they are quite good.

    by hilltopper on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 06:14:21 PM PDT

  •  you're wrong

    You're wrong; the poll is done for the Nevada Resort Association which is a longstanding client of GHY. They've been polling this race all year. But thanks for your support.

    by desmoulins on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:40:27 PM PDT

    •  Hmm....Did Not Know...

      That they even did polling for non-campaign clients. Interesting.

      And you did not have to be snotty with the "thanks for your support" line. You did not specify a client, so all I knew is that the poll was done by Garin-Hart-Yang, who does not work for any media outlets that I am aware of. It wasn't like I was calling you out...I was assuming that the article was in error.

      By the way, Zogby's poll out tonight had Gibbons out by about eight. But it also showed a huge increase in Ensign's lead over Carter, so I think there is some substantial grains of salt to consume (aside from it being that 'interactive format' I have never quite trusted).

      by Steve Singiser on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 09:19:59 PM PDT

•  NV needs to keep...

  that wingnut Jim Gibbons out of the Governor's office.  Jill Derby, (NV-02) has been airing effective TV ads.  No TV ads from Repug Dean Heller yet.
  She is a born-and-raised rural Nevadan.  Considerable appeal to the "moderate" Republicon voter.  
  Thanks, desmoulins, for this diary.

  http://www.nvdems.com

  http://www.turntahoeblue.blogspot.com

  by fgentile on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 05:33:18 PM PDT

•  Titus

  Titus is an awesome candidate.  She's not afraid to take strong progressive stances and she has an excellent chance of winning.

  Jim Gibbons has been a benchwarmer in Cogress with no major acomplishments (not to mention being a rubber stamp for George Bush).  He also has his share of blundering comments and plagirism.

  If the netroots was more Governor-centered instead of Congress-cenetered then this race would surely be at the top of our list.

  by mbcarl on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 06:07:47 PM PDT

•  Go Nevada!

  Put Titus and Carter in office, and help lead the southwest to the blue zone!

  by davidkc on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 06:08:49 PM PDT