Democrats hold edge over Republicans in early voting turnout so far

The reputed Republican surge is still a ripple in Nevada's most populous county after six days of early voting, according to Clark County voter tallies.

In Washoe County, Nevada's other urban center, Republicans have a nearly 7 percentage point turnout advantage.

It adds up to Democrats representing 45 percent of the early turnout in the two counties and Republicans 40 percent.

That leaves Democrats with a 5 percentage point advantage over Republicans among partisans in the early urban county returns.

Independents represent about 15 percent of the electorate.

In the 3rd Congressional District, which covers most of suburban Las Vegas, Democrats represent 43.5 percent of the early vote so far and Republicans 40 percent, with 16 percent independent.

In that district Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., is seeking to defend her seat from Republican Joe Heck.

Statewide the marquee race is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a neck-and-neck race with Republican Sharron Angle.

In the other major statewide race, Reid's son, Democrat Rory Reid, trails Republican Brian Sandoval in opinion polls in the race for governor.

Republican strategist Ryan Erwin, who is a consultant to Heck, said he thinks the 3rd Congressional District and statewide turnout sets up nicely for the Republican Party, whose voters he says turn out better on Election Day.

"I think we are going to see the surge in Republican voters, a larger surge," Erwin said, adding he thinks the nonpartisan vote will break toward Republicans.

Democratic strategist Ronni Council sees it differently.

"I see no Republican surge," said Council.

She expects Democrats, who have had an organizational advantage in Nevada since the buildup to the 2008 election of Barack Obama as president, to simply get more voters to the polls than Republicans.

Through Thursday more than 115,000 of Nevada's approximately 1.1 million active, registered voters cast ballots.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.