Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., is holding a lead in his efforts to win a full-term to the seat he was appointed to when John Ensign resigned. Heller is being challenged by Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who has served in Congress since 1999.
The Real Clear Politics polling average has Heller up 2.6 percent and recent polling shows the race tightening. Both The Rothenberg Political Report and the Cook Political Report rate the race as a toss-up. So far Berkley has narrowly outraised Heller $7.1 million to $6.5 million.
Nevada’s other senate seat is held by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and the GOP holds two of the state’s three House seats.
Nationally, Nevada is considered a swing state, having voted Democratic in the president elections in 1992 and 1996, turning red in 2000 and 2004 and back to blue in 2008.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been to Nevada to stump for Heller and Heller has picked up the endorsements of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and The Chamber of Reno, Sparks and Northern Nevada among others.
Berkley picked up the endorsement of legendary UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian. Tarkanian’s wife, Lois, a member of the Las Vegas City Council, also gave the nod to Berkley.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.