Obama, Titus, Derby the right candidates for this time

Because more than one-third of Clark County voters have already cast ballots, the final turnout for early voting -- which ends Friday -- could rise to more than half of the electorate.

Some races are worth a closer look.

If you haven't decided which presidential candidate you're voting for yet, you probably shouldn't even go to the polls. This election has offered a clear difference in philosophy, policy and issues for the voters.

In recent years, I have been repeatedly asked by the non-evangelical wing of the GOP where they could turn after two terms of George W. Bush. A few years ago, the answer appeared obvious with McCain emphasizing that maverick part of his persona. Not only was he a military hero of the highest order, he was also a good taxpayer watchdog.

That man is unrecognizable today.

And McCain started out as a candidate who was bad for Nevada (wrong on Yucca Mountain, wrong on sports betting, wrong on Internet gaming) in addition to being largely on the Bush side of the economic meltdown and the mishandled war.

Then he selected an unqualified running mate and began running to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Barack Obama hasn't really morphed that much this election cycle. He has kept lobbyists out of his campaign. And he hasn't softened his proposals despite the constant attacks from the McCain camp that he's just a liberal tax-and-spend, spread-the-wealth socialist.

As Obama likes to say, the tax rates under his plan would still be lower than they were when Reagan was in office, and nobody's calling the Great Communicator a socialist.

Oh, and what about the father of the Republican Party? Abraham Lincoln's experience before becoming president -- eight years in the Legislature in Springfield, Ill., and one term in Congress.

As Al Gore noted in his address to the Democratic National Convention this summer, Lincoln's supporters valued "his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a time of impasse."

Obama is the right candidate for this time.

Obama isn't just offering good policy ideas, putting real effort into plans that would reform the health care system, set us on a path toward energy independence and improve international relations. He is also the right person -- cool, collected and calm in the midst of the current economic and international crises -- that this country needs.

Moving down the ticket, the best defense of Republican Jon Porter these days seems to be akin to the McCain strategy. Porter, it's said, is a man of substance who has served Nevada well despite his cynical approach to campaigning and his moving to a murky middle on many key votes this cycle.

But despite three terms in Congress and the majority of that time spent in the majority, it's hard to point to anything Porter has truly accomplished.

His opponent, Democrat Dina Titus, wanted to represent the 3rd District back when it was being drawn. She also sought to be governor in 2006. It's impossible to say h

You know what you are getting with Titus -- a strong intellect coupled with advocacy for the right policies. She's consistently been on the correct side of health care, seniors, and education, and has mentored legions of Nevada's political class.

Titus is not only the right candidate for the 3rd District, she's the right person to help move Obama's agenda through Congress.

Another woman with a doctorate, Jill Derby, is running against first-term Republican Rep. Dean Heller in the 2nd District.

Despite a huge deficit in Democratic voters, Derby came pretty close to Heller two years ago. Heller's responded by moving farther to the right. The majority needs the kind of change Derby would support.

And it would be cool to make history with the first all-female House delegation.

Contact Erin Neff at (702) 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.