By Sean Whaley, Nevada News Bureau: Washoe County Republican and Democratic Party leaders may disagree on who the best choice is for president, but they agree on one point – Washoe is the “battleground” county in the battleground state that is Nevada.
Clark County is expected to go big for Democrats and President Obama, while Nevada’s rural counties are expected to go strong for Mitt Romney. But Washoe County, where Republicans lead in voter registration by 3,700, has gone for both parties in past elections.
In 2008, Washoe County helped Obama win Nevada and the presidency, giving him 55 percent of the vote.
In 2010, the county went strongly for Republican Brian Sandoval in the governor’s race, although U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., won over GOP challenger Sharron Angle. The county also went for incumbent George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
Today on the Nevada NewsMakers television program, county Democratic Party spokesman Chris Wicker and county GOP Chairman Dave Buell discussed Washoe’s influence in Nevada in the 2012 presidential contest.
Buell said the fact that Washoe County voters have gone in different directions in past elections make it the flashpoint in Nevada.
“So Washoe County is the place where Nevada is going to be decided, and there will be all types of resources, both on the Democrat and Republican side in this county to make sure that they carry the day for their candidate,” he said.
Wicker said Washoe is winnable by either side if some side “drops the ball.”
“It all boils down that either side, given the right circumstances, could win Washoe County,” he said.
President Obama is aware of Washoe’s importance, making an official visit to Reno last month to talk about a mortgage refinancing plan he wants Congress to approve. Nevada is clearly important overall, with the president scheduled to make another stop in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Romney was also in Las Vegas last week and campaigned around the state ahead of the February Republican caucus.
Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston, among others, has noted Washoe County’s importance in the 2012 general election.
Strong support for either candidate could also provide coattails either to U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., or his challenger Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., in the Senate race. Control of the U.S. Senate is also up for grabs this election year.
Buell was asked if Washoe Republicans might support Obama over Romney this year as many did for Reid over Angle in 2010. Buell downplayed any such idea, saying it was more dissatisfaction with Angle than support for the Democratic agenda that was a factor in the race. The other factor was a belief that Reid could deliver for Nevada as Senate Majority Leader, he said.
Wicker said Democrats will work to ensure a strong turnout for Obama in Washoe County by talking more about the successes of his first administration, including positive job creation numbers nationally over the past several months.
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Audio clips:
Dave Buell says either party can win Washoe in 2012:
060412Buell :23 for their candidate.”
Chris Wicker agrees that Clark County will go for Democrats and the rurals for Republicans:
060412Wicker :16 in the rurals.”
