[img_assist|nid=2022|title=U.S. Rep. Jon Porter|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=160|height=147]ST. PAUL, Minn. - U.S. Rep. Jon Porter won’t be among those attending the Republican National Convention here this week.

Nevada Republican Party chair Sue Lowden told PolitickerNV.com in a short interview this morning that Porter “has a busy schedule at home in Las Vegas and has not taken the time to come.”

Well, sort of.

Porter is departing tonight for a four-day trip that will take the three-term Republican to Afghanistan and Pakistan, spokesman Matt Leffingwell advises.

Porter is preparing to face off against state Sen. Dina Titus (D-Henderson) in one of the most closely watched House races in the country. Politicker.com’s Pindell Report ranks the race as the 14th most competitive in the nation.