Sen. John Ensign's resignation sets off political scramble

Second, if Heller does get the appointment, then that would trigger a special election in the 2nd Congressional District. The sprawling district covers much of the state outside of Las Vegas and has generally been a reliable place for Republicans. But while George W. Bush easily won the district in 2004, Barack Obama and John McCain each got 49% of the vote there in 2008.

Guy Cecil, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said last night that Nevada's Senate seat will be a top target for them. And it's clear Democrats hope it comes down to a choice between Heller and Berkley, who faces a wealthy opponent in Byron Georgiou in a primary.

"There will be a very clear choice for Nevadans between an uncompromising extremist like Dean Heller, who wants to end Medicare and cut loans for small businesses ... and Shelley Berkley, a true fighter for Nevada's economy and middle class," he said.

Heidi Smith, a GOP national committeewoman in Nevada, told the Las Vegas paper that if Heller gets the appointment "it will help him tremendously."

Over in Heller's congressional district, several Republicans were already lining up to run in 2012, including Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle, state GOP chairman Mark Amodei and Kirk Lippold, a retired Navy officer who commanded the USS Cole when the ship was attacked by al-Qaeda in 2000.

Tags:John EnsignSharron AngleShelley BerkleyDean HellerNate Silver .div-wrapper

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