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U.S. NEWSTuesday 13 October 2015

Clinton Has Edge in Nevada in Run Up to First Debate

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, speaks during a campaign rally cently arrived in the state. made wooing immigrants
in Springfield, Mass. The state where Hillary Clinton and Sanders will meet to debate on Tuesday, When combined with Ne- a keystone of her cam-
Oct. 13, for the first time is evidence of why she’s still the front-runner. Clinton has staff organizing vada’s baroque caucus paign; she announced
on the ground for months in Nevada and they know how to navigate the state’s baroque caucus system, which is so complex her immigration policy ap-
system. that the rules surrounding it proach at a Las Vegas
run 51 pages, high school this spring.
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) that means winning the “That’s a lot of shoe leath-
southwestern state requires er, and they’ve been on
Associated Press runner for the nomination. entry into the race, it is the a higher degree of orga- the ground for 5-6 months,”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — When For all the excitement gen- former first lady and her nization and effort to get- Billy Vassiliadis, a veteran
the Democratic candi- erated to date by Clinton’s campaign that are set up out-the-vote than in most Democratic strategist in
dates for president take the main challenger, Vermont to win Nevada, one of the others. Nevada who isn’t involved
stage for their first debate independent Sen. Bernie first four states to cast bal- The Democrats gather in in the current race, said of
this week in Nevada, they’ll Sanders, and for all the an- lots in the primary contest. Las Vegas on Tuesday for the Clinton campaign’s ef-
do so in a state that serves ticipation about whether Nevada is home to large their first presidential de- forts. “That’s going to be a
as a reminder of why Hillary Vice President Joe Biden communities of immigrants bate, with several months challenge that I don’t think
Rodham Clinton is the front- will decide to make a late — many who have only re- to go before the primary a Sanders can overcome,
contests begin. that — God bless his heart
CNN urged to add liberal panelist On the Republican side, — I don’t think Joe can
a crowded field of candi- overcome.”
DAVID BAUDER CNN had no immediate hen, a former MSNBC pro- dates has already held two Meanwhile, Sanders put
AP Television Writer comment about the sug- ducer who now teaches debates, with seasoned a single paid staffer in the
NEW YORK (AP) — Liberals gested change to its lineup at Ithaca College, and the politicians unexpectedly state less than two weeks
are urging CNN to add a for Tuesday’s debate in Las petition’s author. struggling to emerge from ago, and recently added
left-leaning questioner to Vegas, the first such meet- Such a journalist, from out- the shadow of billionaire a few more.
its panel at this week’s de- ing of Democratic candi- lets like Mother Jones, The Donald Trump and other Biden has yet to decide
bate of Democratic presi- dates. Anderson Cooper is Nation or Democracy Now, insurgent contenders. whether to run and does
dential candidates, saying the moderator. Juan Carlos could raise a topic that a Clinton installed staff on not have any formal cam-
it’s only fair because con- Lopez and Dana Bash will more mainstream modera- the ground in Nevada six paign operation.
servative radio host Hugh ask questions, while Don tor might miss that’s impor- months ago, and she now None of the other candi-
Hewitt participated in the Lemon chooses questions tant to the left wing base, has 22 paid operatives in dates Clinton will debate
network’s coverage of the submitted through Face- he said. the state. Tuesday night — former
second Republican de- book. Hewitt was on stage to ask They have recruited more Maryland Gov. Martin
bate last month. “You want someone at the questions when CNN tele- than 3,000 volunteers, who O’Malley; Lincoln Chaffee,
An online petition was be- debate for Tuesday night vised the GOP debate last have already held events a former U.S. senator and
ing circulated by the group who will question the Dem- month because of a co- in remote desert towns as governor from Rhode Is-
RootsAction on Monday ocrats from the progressive sponsoring agreement with well as the state’s urban land, and former Virginia
asking for the change. perspective,” said Jeff Co- the Salem Media Group, centers. Clinton herself has Sen. Jim Webb — have a
campaign organization
for debate that can match Clinton’s.
All are largely afterthoughts
which distributes the con- in early preference polls,
servative commentator’s but hope for a breakout
talk show. Salem owns 112 moment like technology
radio stations and websites executive Carly Fiorina
like townhall.com, and fo- had in the Republican de-
cuses on content promot- bates to gain ground on
ing Christian and conserva- the front-runners.
tive values. “This will really be the first
Hillary Clinton, Bernie time that nationally vot-
Sanders, Jim Webb, Mar- ers see that there’s more
tin O’Malley and Lincoln than one alternative to
Chafee will all participate this year’s inevitable front-
in the CNN debate. CNN runner, Secretary Clinton,”
has said it would make O’Malley said.
room for Vice President Joe The differences in the struc-
Biden if he were to decide tural strength of the Clinton
to run as late as the day of campaign and that of her
the debate.q main rival were evident this
past weekend. q