Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | 6:37 a.m.
Sen. Dean Heller has informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not sign off on the nomination of Clark County District Judge Elissa Cadish to the federal bench, an extraordinary move that rarely happens between two senators of the same state, sources confirm.
Heller, I'm reliably told, informed Reid of an issue involving gun rights that arose in a previous Cadish campaign. It apparently has to do with her commitment to the Second Amendment, which caused Heller's concern. Cadish has not -- at least not yet -- been asked to withdraw.
When I asked Heller's office for a reaction, his spokesman, Stewart Bybee, responded: "Senator Heller looks forward to supporting the confirmation of Miranda Du to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Nevada tomorrow. In addition, Senator Heller will continue to work with Senator Reid to fill any judicial vacancies in the state of Nevada."
That's what old Ben Bradlee called a non-denial denial. Du is the northern judge up for the federal bench and nominated last August by the president.
No response yet from Reid's office.
UPDATE: Reid's office confirms Heller declined to sign on.
President Obama nominated Cadish on Feb. 16 with this gushing statement
My guess is the White House and Reid are looking for a graceful way out.
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