Clinton sets sights on Nevada

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., walks with Nevada State Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen, background right, as she canvases for her campaign in Las Vegas, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. (Photo:P Jae C. Hon/AP)

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton turned her sights to Nevada on Thursday, hoping its first-time caucuses would help derail presidential rival Barack Obama and perhaps give her another win before the multistate contest on Feb. 5.

After a day to regroup following her unexpected win Tuesday in New Hampshire's primary, Clinton was canvassing Las Vegas neighborhoods late Thursday and then leading a round-table discussion on the mortgage crisis, a key issue in a state where foreclosures have soared.

She and her advisers spent Wednesday mapping out a strategy that accounts for the fluid nature of a campaign without a clear front-runner. The idea, aides said, is to compete in Nevada but acknowledge challenges facing them in the Jan. 19 caucuses.

Both Clinton's and Obama's campaigns sent their organizations from Iowa, where Obama won and Clinton finished third. Obama was second in New Hampshire.

On Wednesday, Obama was endorsed by the 60,000-member Culinary Workers Union, which represents casino industry workers. It is the largest and best organized labor group in the state, and has the potential of steering thousands of voters to the state's Jan. 19 caucus.

Obama also has been endorsed by the Nevada chapter of the Service Employees International Union.

The union endorsements were a blow to former Sen. John Edwards, who finished third in New Hampshire and is working to keep the contest from becoming a two-person race between Obama and Clinton. Edwards has visited the state 17 times, yet trails his rivals.

For now, the race seems to be between Clinton and Obama. Both have been airing positive, introductory commercials for several weeks, including some ads in Spanish. Clinton has visited eight times, Obama 10. He is scheduled to return Friday for a rally with Culinary members.

Democrats also are scheduled to meet here Tuesday, January 15, for a pre-caucus debate.

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