Kennedy and Clinton did win Nevada which proves my point that it's as purple as it gets. It votes for winners except in 1976. By reliable Republican I mean it was overwhelmingly supportive of Reagan and Nixon both times as well as Bush Sr. and Eisenhower. I know that those candidates won by landslides, but the margin of victory was even higher in Nevada for them whereas Clinton won by about a point or so both times. If you want to talk about Kennedy winning by more than his margin of victory in 1960, then I have 2 things for you. Kennedy's margin of victory isn't hard to overcome and 1960 was 50 years ago.
Nevada is as purple as a state can get at a presidential level. It has gone from being on the conservative side of victory margins to the middle.
And Eisenhower was 60 years ago...and Nixon was 40 years ago...and Reagan was 30 years ago...and Bush Sr. was 20 years ago...
Your point is moot.