Rep. Jon Porter’s (R) suburban Las Vegas seat has piqued the interests of at least four prominent local Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D) son.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee already has begun approaching potential 2008 challengers to Porter, who just avoided an upset by Tessa Hafen (D) in November.

Those on the DCCC’s short list: Hafen, a former top aide to Reid; Rory Reid, the Clark County commission chairman who also heads Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) Nevada operations; Richard Perkins, the Henderson police chief and former state Assembly Speaker; and Dina Titus, the state’s Senate Minority Leader and 2006 gubernatorial standard-bearer.

Nevada’s 3rd district was created after the most recent census to be a battleground between Democrats and Republicans. Porter has held the seat since 2002.
— Matthew Murray