2008 Election

CARSON CITY - U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has maintained a slight lead over U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in Nevada, 45 to 42 percent, according to a Rasmussen poll released today.

McCain's advantage has fallen in the last month from a 6-point lead in Rasmussen's May 20 poll, 46 to 40 percent, and is a statistically insignificant improvement from a Mason-Dixon poll conducted earlier this month that showed McCain to be leading Obama 45 to 42 percent.

LAS VEGAS - U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign launched a new television ad today that will play in battleground states and on national cable.

Expect to see it soon on a TV near you.

LAS VEGAS-Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain launched a new Spanish language radio ad yesterday in parts of the southwest including Nevada. The ad, titled "Economy," focuses on rising food and gasoline costs and stays away from more divisive issues including his proposed temporary worker plan.

"When we are buying groceries, we don't have a political party," the announcer reads in the ad. "When we are filling up the gas tank, we are not Republicans, Democrats or Independents. We are Hispanics, and we all are hurting together in this uncertain economic time."

LAS VEGAS-Speaking to reporters in Washington D.C. today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that he would endorse one of the Democratic candidates for president by the end of this week.

Reid has kept to a pledge of neutrality he made before the Nevada Caucuses in January.  He has said repeatedly that he, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, would urge all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to commit to a candidate following the final nominating contests in Montana and South Dakota.

Voting in those contests is scheduled to conclude at 7 p.m. PDT tonight.

RENO-In U.S. Sen. John McCain's town hall meeting Wednesday, the first question he took from the crowd was on Yucca Mountain and nuclear power.  McCain repeated his support for Yucca Mountain with qualifications and as well as his hope for an international nuclear waste repository and expanding nuclear fuel reprocessing.

RENO-U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) campaigned in Reno Wednesday. In this clip, McCain takes Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama to task for refusing an invitation for them to visit Iraq together.

Note the warm reaction to the very mention of Nevada's senior senator's name.

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) shakes hands after a town hall meeting in Reno Wednesday.: Politicker Photo.RENO-Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain returned to Nevada today, hosting a town hall meeting for a crowd of about 800 at the Truckee Meadows Boys and Girls Club in Reno. Although McCain brought the crowd to its feet several times during the course of the meeting, several attendees expressed reservations about a McCain presidency before, during and after his appearance.

"I would support him over the other two, I'll put it that way," said Ben Engel of Reno while the crowd awaited McCain.

After being introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), McCain committed to campaigning in Nevada and predicted the state would go for him in November.

Rep. Jon Porter files for reelection Monday.: Politicker Photo.LAS VEGAS -- Flanked by family and staff, Republican Rep. Jon Porter filed for reelection to a fourth term this morning and answered reporters' questions about his coming campaign.

Porter is facing what may be his toughest election to date as former Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus announced a challenge against him earlier in the month. Titus won Porter's district during her 2006 gubernatorial campaign at a time when the district was much more Republican. Today, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by almost 23,000 voters.

"Every race is difficult; every race is a challenge," said Porter. "In campaigns, six months is a long time. A lot can happen."

Newly elected Nevada Senate Minority Leader Steven Horsford speaks to volunteers at a voter registration drive Saturday: Politicker PhotoLAS VEGAS -- When Nevada Senate Democrats wrapped up their four-hour meeting Friday night, they had selected a new leader and created the outlines of a plan to take over the majority. The only things they lacked were specifics.

"Our caucus spent a lot of time last night talking about how we were going to work as a team to take the majority in November," said state Sen. Steven Horsford (D-Las Vegas), the newly elected Democratic leader, Saturday.

"Our first goal is to win in November, so that's what we're focused on. Once we get beyond winning, we'll start looking into how we will govern in 2009."

LAS VEGAS-As filing period continues, PolitickerNV.com will be regularly updating our list of candidates and giving you a brief summary of the races we can look forward to this year.  Here's a list of newly filed candidates.