Inside Politics - April 2007

Nevada Rolls Out the Red Carpet

Democratic Presidential Candidates Visit the State

by Michael Sullivan

For a moment, you might have thought you were in New England, not Northern Nevada. The air was crisp and presidential candidates, along with their entourages and the media, nearly outnumbered residents.

Nevada’s new Democratic presidential caucus schedule has made the Silver State an important destination for potential candidates, and for a couple of days Nevadans got a taste of the kind of attention the voters of New Hampshire and Iowa have come to expect a year before a presidential election.

Except for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, every major Democrat seeking the party’s nomination for president was in Carson City – visiting legislators, talking to reporters and holding impromptu town-hall meetings at local coffee shops. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton was treated like a rock star as she made her way through the Nevada Legislature, where she attended meetings with Nevada Sen. Dina Titus and her caucus, as well as Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and her leadership team. Other candidates, including U.S. Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, as well as John Edwards and Bill Richardson were all in town and participated in a political forum, emceed by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

Most experts said Nevada’s first foray into primary presidential politics went quite well. With only Obama missing, the turnout was good and the candidates gave strong pitches on behalf of their campaigns.

The scrutiny will intensify in the coming months as the candidates begin to assemble organizations and establish field offices to woo voters even more intently. Clinton scored a major coup when she snagged Clark County Commission Chair Rory Reid to head up her organization in Nevada. She also brought on former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa to lead her operations in Northern Nevada. Other candidates have been courting labor unions and other large groups for support. In the caucus system, a candidate wins by getting more of their supporters to show up and be counted in a series of caucus meetings, held throughout the state. It is a more personal type of support and requires an energetic grass-roots effort, as opposed to a voting primary, which is more like a general election.

Endorsements from an influential group or well-known personality can mean a larger voting block, which is why candidates are willing to make so many appearances and attend so many meetings. Momentum can often be the key when it comes to securing a party’s nomination. If a candidate does well in Nevada, it can bode well for his or her campaign going into other state’s primaries or caucuses. For Nevada, it means attention from the national media and a greater focus on our issues.

George Bush won the Silver State twice, and GOP leaders are already concerned that by advancing the primary date, Nevada Democrats will accord voters a closer connection with the eventual Democratic nominee, thereby giving the party an advantage come November of 2008. Republican Party stalwarts like Pete Ernaut are busy trying to move up the state’s Republican primary, as well, to offset the attention being afforded the Democrats. While Nevada only has five electoral votes, in past elections they proved to be crucial when the vote totals became razor close.

The real benefactor of all this attention is the voting public, who will get an up-close and personal chance to meet and assess the people who could very well be occupying the White House in January of 2009.

Michael Sullivan
Michael Sullivan is president of Knight Consulting, a Southern Nevada government affairs firm.