[img_assist|nid=2467|title=U.S. Sen. John Ensign|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=210|height=266]WASHINGTON – National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-Las Vegas) sounded something of a political alarm today, saying that he has warned top Republican officials about the mounting Democratic voter registration edge in Nevada, a crucial battleground state.

In a pen-and-pad briefing at the NRSC headquarters, Ensign said that in the last several weeks he had told Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan that the party had neglected voter registration efforts in the state and urged Duncan to turn the efforts around.

Ensign said he told Duncan: “I thought they neglected voter registration and I thought they needed to put more resources in, especially now that they’re getting those resources.”

The Democratic voter registration advantage in the Silver State has been steadily climbing. As of August, Democrats held a 75,000-person edge, an increase of 60,000 from a year earlier. At the time of the 2004 presidential election Republicans had a voter registration advantage of 5,000.

“Democrats had really increased their voter registration in Nevada,” Ensign said he told Duncan. “It was a mistake for us to not put the resources in. You have them now. I hope you put them in because Nevada absolutely should go for McCain, especially with (Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah) Palin on the ticket now. But don’t take a chance with the voter registration numbers. I hope that you’ll put the resources in.”

Asked if he had seen any movement from the RNC's end, Ensign responded: "I don't know yet." 

A spokesman for McCain’s Nevada campaign did not comment specifically on the resources the Republican Party was putting into voter registration in the Silver State.

“As in any campaign, more resources are always appreciated,” said McCain spokesman Rick Gorka, adding that the campaign was working “full time” to register supporters ahead of Nov. 4.

While Democrats’ numbers might be larger, Gorka added, Republicans had demonstrated success in targeting supporters and bringing them out to the polls on Election Day.

“They have a voter registration edge,” he said. “But it’s putting the cart before the horse.”