Bill Clinton coming to Vegas to boost Dems
Former President Bill Clinton plans to come to Nevada next week to help Democrats get out the vote, a person familiar with his schedule confirmed Thursday.
Clinton is a popular figure within the party and has campaigned in the Silver State in the past, including four years ago when U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., needed an eleventh-hour boost to ensure his 2010 re-election.
This year, Democrats are having trouble getting their supporters to the polls during the early voting period, which began Saturday and ends Oct. 31 just ahead of the Nov. 4 Election Day.
Republicans have turned out in larger numbers than Democrats every day so far during early voting, banking thousands of ballots that could make a difference in close races.
As of the end of Wednesday after five days of early voting, 47 percent of voters who cast ballots early or mailed them in were Republicans compared to 37 percent who were Democrats, according to the Nevada secretary of state website. That gives the GOP a 9,705-ballot edge over Democrats, who usually far outpace Republicans during early voting.
The top races to watch this year include the lieutenant governor’s contest between Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, D-Las Vegas, and state Sen. Mark Hutchison, R-Las Vegas, and the battle for attorney general between Republican Adam Laxalt and Democrat Ross Miller, who is secretary of state.
U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., could use a boost as well as the freshman defends his seat against Republican challenger Assemblyman Cresent Hardy of Mesquite.
Horsford appeared headed for victory in the 4th Congressional District, but could be in jeopardy after an outside group launched a $820,000 TV ad campaign against him this week.
The spots by Crossroads GPS tie Horsford to President Barack Obama, saying he votes with the president 90 percent of the time. The attack comes at a time that Obama has the lowest approval ratings of his presidency.
Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Find her on Twitter: @lmyerslvrj.
