By Niels C. Sorrells
Congressional Quarterly

Electoral votes: 4

Delegates: 17

Chairman: Gov. Kenny Guinn

Hotel: Clarion Suites (215) 922-1730

1996 Election:
Clinton – 44%
Dole – 43%
Perot – 9%

The electric glow of the Las Vegas entertainment industry energizes Nevada's economy. But don't expect the Nevada delegates to bring any of that glitz with them to the Republican convention in Philadelphia.

"We're probably going to be one of the boring delegations," said Ryan Erwin, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party.

Members of the delegation say they are solidly behind the nomination of Texas Gov. George W. Bush for president. The delegates were selected at the state Republican convention over the Memorial Day weekend; Bush had long since clinched the nomination.

The 17-member delegation is top heavy with elected officials and those seeking elected office. The group includes Gov. Kenny Guinn, the delegation chairman; former Rep. John Ensign, who this year is seeking to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Richard H. Bryan; Rep. Jim Gibbons; state Treasurer Brian Krolicki; and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt.

That's on top of a healthy collection of state representatives and senators, county chairmen and a few local politicians. Even the alternates are a higher profile bunch than in most states. Among them is state Sen. Jon C. Porter Sr., the likely Republican challenger to freshman 1st District Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley.

Two former Republican leaders attending as alternates have one thing in common: They had their political careers ended by Democrat Bryan. One-term Gov. Robert F. List was unseated by Bryan in 1982; Chic Hecht won a U.S. Senate seat in 1982 but was unseated by Bryan in 1988.

Ensign, though, will use this year's convention to boost his campaign to succeed Bryan. Ensign, who lost a 1998 challenge to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by about 400 votes, is considered one of the Republicans' strongest Senate-seat takeover candidates; his is the only contest for a Democratic-held Senate seat this year that Congressional Quarterly ranks as "Leans Republican."

Delegates interviewed by CQ said they do not plan to be terribly outspoken on the party's platform.

As in many states this year, Republican officials in Nevada have tried to temper issues that divided the party in recent presidential contests. Delegates to the state convention in late May voted 166-149 to delete a state platform plank urging support of an "unalienable right to life for every person from conception to a natural death."

NEVADA NOTABLES: Gov. Kenny Guinn and first lady Dema Guinn; John Ensign, a former U.S. representative, the 1998 GOP Senate nominee and a 2000 Senate candidate; U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons and his wife, Dawn Gibbons; Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt; Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller; state Controller Kathy Augustine; state Treasurer Brian Krolicki; Beverly Willard, recently elected Republican national committeewoman; state Sen. Jon C. Porter Sr., a 2000 U.S. House candidate in Nevada's 1st District.