Republican? Me?

Some Republicans are apparently feeling ambivalent about their Republicanism. GOP candidate for lieutenant governor Mark Hutchison is sending out glossy, four-page attacks on his opponent Sue Lowden, but readers have to look very closely to see the word Republican. It appears once, on the second page where the date of the Republican primary is reported. Otherwise, readers could get the idea that Hutchison is running for the Conservative Party nomination, if Nevada had a Conservative Party. That's the term next to his name where the party affiliation normally appears (see photo).

Nevada Assembly candidate Rick Fineberg is advertising in an unusual spot—the back side of KKFT bumper strips being handed out around town by the Fox radio affiliate. On that small space, there is apparently no room for his party membership, but the word conservative appears twice. Fineberg is running in the primary against Assembly Republican floor leader Pat Hickey, whose materials do feature the party prominently.