Former state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus (D) has picked up the endorsement of the powerful fundraising group EMILY’s List in her campaign to knock off Rep. Jon Porter (R) in the suburban Las Vegas 3rd district.

The endorsement of EMILY’s List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, will certainly be a boon to Titus, who made a late decision to enter the race in May, just two weeks before the state’s filing deadline. Titus likely will now receive heavy financial support from the group’s large donor base as she tries to build her campaign war chest to compete with Porter, who reported more than $1 million in cash on hand at the end of the first quarter.

Titus, who has the Democratic primary field to herself, is also receiving heavy financial help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The committee, which recruited her into the race and has already included her in its “Red to Blue” fundraising and infrastructure program, has also set up a joint fundraising committee, the Women Lead Victory Fund 2008, which will benefit Titus and four other female candidates for the House.