In my first diary, a welcome to my state and please help my state...
This early spot on the calendar saw an avalanche of Nevada's democratic power elite line up behind Hillary. Clark County is home to about 70% of the state's population, and the chairman of the county commission, Rory Reid (Harry's son) signed on as Hillary's top dog in the silver state. Dina Titus, the failed democratic gubernatorial candidate in the 2006 election brought her immense ground team to the HRC campaign.
Today is the climax, and the second tier results, from county conventions, left us with 49% Obama to 51% Clinton.
Three Nevada bloggers are at the convention covering it, follow me below the fold for more.
Update: Obama Flips Clinton's Win in Nevada
The final tally: Obama won 14 national delegates and Clinton won 11 national delegates. Under the caucus results, Obama was expected to win 13 national delegates to Clinton's 12. Although Clinton won the caucuses, Obama out-performed her in rural Nevada and Washoe County.
The convention has 1 more delegate to name, although that person goes to the national convention unpledged.
Update #2 The Delegate Breakdown link
The bloggers are...
Desert Beacon discusses President Clinton's address and the keynote speaker for VoteVets.
Inside Nevada Politics has an interesting take on the former president's tone, and calls for unity; plus Reid comments on end date to process.
PolitickerNv glosses over the opening tiff about the consent agenda. On the agenda, national delegate selection methods and somebody else wants to be state chairman. Video of President Clinton's address included.
My Barack Back-story...
As an Obama supporter, I'd like to reflect on how I got here on Kos. So I'll go back to the original message that told me that Barack would be our next president. Iowa... it was change, and someone I can believe in. After listening to Barack's Iowa victory speech, I realized this man's vision had earned my vote. So turning my back on those democratic leaders in my state... that I grew up admiring... I went to the Obama campaign and signed up as a volunteer. Being is heavy Clinton country, I turned to Kos for moral support and inspriation.
I needed it when Obama lost the NV precinct caucuses, even though he picked up one additional delegate. During the county conventions, he closed the gap to 2% points. Today, he won the state 55% to 45% and picked up one delegate. One remaining unpeldged delegates will be elected by the convention as a whole.
A cry for help....
We have two GOP whack jobs in congress: NV-02 & NV-03. My Silver State's Sven discusses it further...
Both are vulnerable. Currently, CQ rates CD 2 as Republican Favored and CD 3 as Leans Republican. However, that's mostly on the basis of the Republicans current financial advantage. After serving as Nevada Democratic State Party Chair for the past year and preparing the state for the caucus in January, Jill Derby announced another run against Heller in late February. By the end of the first quarter filing deadline she had raised $144,000.
In CD 3 a lot of Democrats were mentioned as possible challengers last year. In the end Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas was the candidate backed by most in the Democratic Party. He was added to the DCCC'd red to blue list in March. However, everyone was shocked when Daskas dropped out this month just two weeks before the filing deadline. Local Democrats, the DCCC and Daskas' primary opponent Andrew Martin soon rallied around Senate Minority Leader and 2006 gubernatorial nominee Dina Titus. However, six months before the election Titus is at a serious fundraising disatvantage.
I'd like to emphasis that both the Obama Nevada Camp and Clinton Nevada Camp have unified to send Dina and Jill to D.C.
Update #3: Jill Derby's speech at the NV Convention
So please show Nevada some love, and Jill & Dina some support on "My Silver State Candidates" fundraising page on Act Blue!