The political future of NEVADA...

[ucscgaldamez]

Is there a democratic trend in Nevada? Will Nevada become a strong Democratic stronghold?

Keep in mind:

-Obama won Nevada, 55-43%
-Voter registration: Dems +100k
-Clark county, Dems +100k
-Washoe County- Voted for Obama, Dems now in the lead in voter registration in Washoe county.

Even in the month of November, the Democrats are still beating the Republicans in voter registration.

For 2012, 2016...the status of Nevada...a swing state or a strong Dem state?

Or, of course, subject to other factors.

[Matt Damon™]

My guess is a swing state for the forseeable future. Nevada is quite economically conservative and evey so often dems push leftist economic moves.

[Governor PiT]

It is one of the most libertarian states. Ron Paul was second to Romney in the primary.

[phk]

Its a very politically weird state. Seems like a liberal, conservative, libertarian and populist all at the same time.

[Matt Damon™]

Populist? Where do you get THAT from?

[phk]

Populist? Where do you get THAT from?

The economically liberal, socially conservative (as per the board's definition of populist) Hispanic contingent in Clark.

[Matt Damon™]

What percentage of the total state electorate are you referring here?

[phk]

What percentage of the total state electorate are you referring here?

Probably 50% of the Latino electorate.

[Matt Damon™]

And the latino percentage of Nevada's electorate is?

[Holmes]

^ According to exit polls they were 15% and went 76% for Obama this year.

-Washoe County- Voted for Obama, Dems now in the lead in voter registration in Washoe county.

Even in the month of November, the Democrats are still beating the Republicans in voter registration.

Well if this continues to be the case and they actually vote, then there's not much to discuss... but it's only been a month.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Democratic leaning Swing state. For now. The Republicans need to become fiscally conservative again, need to organize better ,and try to attract at least 40% of the Latino vote in NV.

[pbrower2a]

Democratic leaning Swing state. For now. The Republicans need to become fiscally conservative again, need to organize better ,and try to attract at least 40% of the Latino vote in NV.

Nevada broke late -- and wide -- for Obama. The real estate meltdown hit young homeowners who suddenly had upside-down mortgages. Because Mexican-Americans tend to buy housing at lower levels of income than any other ethnic group, they were the ones hit hardest. Lots of people thought that Nevada would be a squeaker one way or another --  and Nevada was called in 44 minutes after the polls closed.

Because of the large Latino population, Nevada will be slow to forgive the Republican Party that promoted over-priced housing with subprime mortgages. Nevada is not a swing state in 2012; Iowa, New Hampshire, and even Pennsylvania are more likely swing states in 2012. The voters who turned on the Republican Party are young, and that bodes extreme ill for the GOP, which might as well write off Nevada for the next four Presidential races. John Ensign's Senate seat will be vulnerable.

Try to attract 40% of the Latino vote in Nevada? Not for a long time will such an effort bear fruit. That's like saying that if the GOP could win 40% of the black vote in Detroit it would win Michigan. 

[Antonio the Sixth]

Nevada is going to become strongly democratic, as many Southwestern states.

[HAnnA MArin County]

I think it all just depends on the demographic changes. If the Latino community continues to rise, Nevada will probably become a blue state. It did swing wildly into the Democratic column in 2008. The sub-prime mortgage crisis did hit Nevadans hard, and the economic downturn I'm sure just fueled this big swing. However, I still think Nevada will stay a battleground state at least another election or so. Last I saw, Harry Reid's U.S. Senate seat was listed as a tossup on several websites so I wouldn't push Nevada into the "Safe Blue" category just yet.