The Consumer Electronics Show is bracing for a smaller turnout this week as a result of the economic downturn -- and the newly elected lawmaker representing the city's suburbs is worried the shift indicates more gloom for the state's fragile economy. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., said the high-tech convention, often billed as one of the world's largest expositions, is among the most important conventions in town. "Our bread and butter is conventions, so when attendance drops, it really hurts," Titus told CongressDaily Monday. This year's pageant of gadgets, gizmos and government-focused dialogue, which begins Wednesday with a keynote by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, is expected to draw 130,000 people. That's down from the 141,150 who attended in 2008, according to projections from the Consumer Electronics Association, which puts on the event. Read the story at CongressDaily (subscription required).