Typically I’d add this as an update to my earlier post, but as it is now two days hence I’m giving it a new headline.

Ralston has today penned an analysis of the mini-debate he hosted this week between GOP U.S. Senate candidates Angle, Amodei, Chachas and Tarkanian.  If you watched the show, go see what he wrote and drop a comment either there or back here.  (If you didn’t catch the show, the link to all the video segments are at the bottom of his piece.)

As I have scanned my Google alerts and the ‘net for commentary on the debate, I have been surprised that no other Nevada press outlet has so much as mentioned it.  Ralston provided a side-by-side look at 4 out of 5 of the GOP U.S. Senate candidates – one of whom might very well take down the most powerful politician our state has ever had – yet not one TV station, radio station or newspaper (other than The Sun) deigned to give it the time of day?  Even while some in the national press took interest?

Very puzzling.  And disappointing, because I was eager to see reactions from the left, right and middle.  It’s always so interesting to see how these things play in different camps.

Is this a mass snub of some kind (though toward whom, or for what purpose, I cannot imagine)?  Does no one (else) in the Nevada press care about covering one of the most interesting U.S. Senate primary races in the entire country?  Were all the political reporters taking a nap?  Or watching Oprah…?

Dunno.

Also:  I have received and/or been cc’d on all kinds of emails to/from the conservative grassroots peeps complaining that ALL the GOP candidates were not invited on Ralston’s show this week.

Look:  I am all for every man having his fair share of air time, whatever the size of his coffers or quality of his campaign, but it is just not feasible to host a 30 minute TV show with 11 candidates and expect that it’s going to work or be worthwhile for anyone.  Ralston initially invited the four candidates with the best poll numbers and biggest bank accounts.  When Sue Lowden declined, he invited next-in-line, Mark Amodei.  Seems reasonable to me.  (And, for the record, I believe he’s had candidates Chuck Kozak, Bill Parsons and Mike Wiley on his show for 1-on-1 interviews.)

There will be other debates, other opportunities.  Ralston’s show was a good start.