Nevada Governor: Primary Results Good for GOP

By Nathan L. Gonzales

As expected, Rep. Jim Gibbons won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with 48% over state Sen. Bob Beers and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt. State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus won the Democratic primary convincingly, 53%-36%, over Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson. But her win makes a Democratic takeover in Nevada more difficult.

Titus had the backing of EMILY's List while Gibson was more conservative and generally-regarded as having the wider general election appeal. Now, Cong. Gibbons will surely be reaching out to the one-third of Democratic voters who chose the more conservative candidate in the primary.

An August Mason-Dixon poll for the Las Vegas Review Journal showed Gibbons with a 46%-35% lead over Titus in a general election match-up. That mirrored a May Research 2000 poll for the Reno Gazette-Journal showing Gibbons ahead of Titus 46%-36%.

The open seat gives Democrats an opportunity in a state with a constantly changing population, but Titus has some considerable ground to make-up. Move from Narrow Advantage to Clear Advantage GOP.

This item first appeared on Political Wire on August 16, 2006.