Nevada to retain "None of the Above"

A federal appeals court decided this week to allow Nevada's controversial "None of the Above" voting option to stand as the printing of the state's November ballots proceeds. Nevada has had that option since 1976. Although the ballot item can't technically win an election, it does let the candidates who do win know the people don't really like them. The first federal judge tried to delay his decision until the ballots had already gone to the printer. The appeals judge struck down the lower court's decision to remove, and also chastised the judge for dragging his feet.

In 1998, Senate Leader Harry Reid beat the Republican challenger by just 428 votes. "None of the Above" got 8,000 votes. The provision can't force a new election, however.

Still, Nevada says the ballot item boosts voter turnout, bringing out disgruntled people who would otherwise simply not have voted.

The Mitt Romney camp was reportedly disappointed with the decision because they felt people who don't like either candidate might vote for him in larger numbers than for President Obama.
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In President Clinton's speech last night to the Democratic Convention in Charlotte - the best speech of his life, many say - he made a better case for Barack Obama's reelection than Obama himself has ever made. Some say the President may be reelected in November because of Clinton's brilliant explaining of the issues last night. Michelle Obama's perfect speech on Tuesday (in her unique "purposeful stuttering" style) set the stage though, emotionally. The President will speak tonight, accepting his party's nomination (one assumes) and closing the convention.