The San Francisco Chronicle checks in with a piece on Nevada and the Democratic caucus, and the Vegas clichés aren’t far behind. In fact, in the first sentence we’re treated to no less than three: strippers, dancers and showgirls. Still, the Chronicle stretched beyond the bright lights and spent considerable time in Pahrump.

The piece highlights the reason national Democrats awarded Nevada an early caucus.

“From hamlets like Pahrump, where legalized brothels still operate, to sprawling “exurbs” like Laughlin to the environmental jewel of Lake Tahoe, Nevada’s issues and melting pot represents a new political dynamic. It melds the fastest-growing populations of elderly and Jewish voters, a rapidly growing population of Latino immigrants, and a vast army of construction, hotel and casino workers who form the base of strong labor unions being wooed for endorsements in the presidential contest.

“A new study by the Brookings Institution suggests that in just four decades, Nevada and the Mountain West, encompassing growing urban areas such as Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque and Denver, are poised to surpass the Midwest as the country’s ‘next heartland.’ “

The Chronicle even catches John Edwards holding court outside Harrie’s Bagelmania before this month’s Democratic debate, which we blogged about here.

“Nevada represents, in many ways, issues that should be central to who the next president of the United States will be,” Edwards said.

Now, if only the candidates would start addressing them.