(Aug. 31) -- As the early voters cast their votes, predictions about who may win the presidential election have surfaced from analysts. President George Bush is starting to see momentum in the polls from the Republican National Convention. Nevada is still too close to call whether the president or Senator John Kerry is favored.
UNLV political science Assistant Professor David Damore has followed the presidential election as it progressed in Nevada. He says the economy will not be a big issue for local voters, but the war in Iraq will. "Events in Iraq -- for a long time there was a very strong war support in Nevada. That is slipping a bit as that issue comes along. The other big issue will be Yucca Mountain. It's something both candidates have tried to use to their advantage."
At the Republican National Convention members of the Nevada delegation are talking about Senator Kerry's pledge to end the Yucca Mountain Project.
Gov. Guinn, (R) Nevada, said, "Senator Kerry says consistently, 'If I am elected, I will kill it.' If that is the case, President Clinton was against it and he was there for 8 years and he could not kill it."
Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn says that we will beat the project in the courts not the political arena. U.S. Senator John Ensign agrees and hopes voters understand that. This is why we will see more attention on this state over the next nine weeks.
Sen. John Ensign, (R) Nevada, said, "Our five electoral votes are playing heavily in the minds of both campaigns. We are seeing a lot of visits from both sides."
Gov. Guinn, "We can get out 2.5 to 3 percent more votes. In a 50-50 state that is important for us. It will come down to the independent voters."
CNN analysts estimate that President Bush will win this state, making him the favorite in the election. However, the latest poll by Zogby shows Senator John Kerry with a slight lead in the state. With the margin of error, it's too close to call.
Gov. Kenny Guinn
