50 Days To Go

There are 50 days to go until the presidential election, and Nevada is leaning toward McCain.

Polls show McCain currently in the lead with 47% and Obama with 44.7% although the two have remained in a close race the past few months.

Historically Nevada was a Democratic state, but in recent years has moved toward a more conservative political ideology. In the 1992 presidential election Clinton received 37.36% of the vote, Bush received 34.73% and Perot received 26.19%. Clinton took Nevada again in 1996 with 43.93% of the vote, Dole received 42.91% and Perot got 9.47%. In 2000 Bush won the state with 50% of the vote, Gore received 46% and Nader received 2%. Bush took Nevada again in 2004 with 50%, Kerry received 48% and Nader received 1%.

The key issue in the past few elections was the proposed site of the Yucca Mountains as a nuclear waste repository. Clinton promised to veto a temporary site in Nevada, as did Bush in 2000. As of May 2002, the Yucca Mountains became the permanent site, however, it is not supposed to be open until 2012. The date could also be delayed, especially with Harry Reid as the majority leader now. Click here to read more about the Yucca Mountain issue.