Titus declares victory over Porter

By Brian Eckhouse

Published Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 | 7:42 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 | 12:03 a.m.

Dina Titus declared victory tonight as she continues to lead Rep. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, in the race for the 3rd Congressional district and appears to have ousted the incumbent congressman. With 71.6 percent of precincts reporting, Titus is leading 47.6 percent to 42.1 percent. Porter has conceded and congratulated Titus.

The incumbent congressman was conciliatory and said he hoped the country could unite again.

"Nevada families are struggling now unlike I've ever seen in my 10-year public service. The mortgages are causing a major impact, we have small businesses that are closing, we have seniors that are losing their pensions. We have a lot of work to do."

"I congratulate my opponent, Dina Titus for her success, but know that we have a lot of work to do. I look forward to working with her and all the other officials that one this evening as we move into this next Congress."

"Throughout the campaign, families would tell me that we need to roll up our sleeves and work together as Democrats and Republicans and Independents for what's best for our community of Nevada and what's best for our nation. I believe we can do that."

"Yes, we have serious challenges today. But I know that together the community of Nevada and the greatest nation in the world, we will overcome these challenges as we always have historically. I'm truly proud to be an American. I'm proud to be a Nevadan and represent our community for so many years."

Many political analysts watched the race between the former state Senate colleagues closely, trying to glean whether Obama’s candidacy had down-ballot coattails. But there were other factors in Titus’ favor.

As the Sun’s Michael J. Mishak reported last month, the Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by about 31,000, whereas the split was fairly even just two years ago. And incumbent Republicans nationally have been vulnerable this cycle, and especially so since the economy went belly-up in mid-September.

Some of the most debated issues nationally were central in this race. In a debate last month, the candidates squabbled over privatizing Social Security, the federal bailout (Porter supported it, Titus initially opposed it) and energy.

In 1997, Titus recommended limiting growth in a rapidly developing Las Vegas Valley, labeling the proposal “ring around the valley.” The idea, wrote Sun reporter J. Patrick Coolican, “was to allow growth, but manage it within the ring.” The proposal polarized the community and ultimately failed, but “Titus stirred the debate on growth, got people talking about it, and led the fight to protect Red Rock Canyon some years later,” according to Coolican’s report.

Porter also dealt with growth in the state Senate.

According to a profile of Porter by Mishak: “On growth, Porter proposed a 21-member Southern Nevada Planning Authority to study growth requirements in Clark County, a measure opposed as unnecessary bureaucracy by county commissioners.

He won, and, after the 1997 session, announced he had required a packaged of six bills to manage and pay for growth.”