Thirty-nine years ago Gov. Paul Laxalt vetoed a bill …

By Jon Ralston

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Thirty-nine years ago Gov. Paul Laxalt vetoed a bill that would have made Nevada – get this! — the nation’s first presidential primary. In his veto message Laxalt said Nevada should not “leapfrog” and should avoid “transgressing upon its neighbors.” How ironic. Laxalt argued that voters should have more time to evaluate the candidates. Nevada Republicans, Laxalt wrote, “probably would have nominated George Romney in March,” and he was gone by May. Again, the irony: This year state Republicans tabbed Romney’s son, Mitt. Laxalt capped his veto by saying that without the timing issue, he supported a primary in Nevada because it is “more responsive to the wishes of the people.” The more things change ...