January 18, 2008

Nevada Caucus Decision: The Campaigns Respond

Yesterday's decision to allow several Las Vegas casinos to double as caucus sites in tomorrow's presidential nominating contest was met with predictable responses from the two campaigns expected to be most affected by the ruling.

Barack Obama, whose backing by the state's Culinary Workers Union is expected to boost his standing among the laborers who will be caucusing at the casino sites, hailed U.S. District Court Judge James Mahan's decision and chided rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign in a meeting with the San Francisco Chronicle's editorial board yesterday.

"This caucus process was designed by Democratic Party of Nevada in conjunction with the Democratic National Committee," he told the board. "I, as somebody who's not part of the establishment of the Democratic Party, had no say in the rules... [but] individuals like Harold Ickes, Clinton's key adviser, were a part of making these rules. And some of the people who filed the lawsuit were a part of making these rules," he added in reference to the involvement of Clinton supporters in challenging the casino sites.

Late yesterday afternoon, the Clinton camp came out with its own statement disavowing any involvement in the lawsuit but clearly expressing regret at the decision. "Make no mistake -- the current system that inhibits some shift workers from being able to participate, while allowing others to do so, would seem to benefit other campaigns. More importantly it is unfair," the statement reads. "The Obama campaign has been clear in its belief that whoever wins the culinary union endorsement will win Nevada. We will leave it up to the people of Nevada to make that decision."

For background on the disputed sites, see The Gate's coverage here.

Posted at 8:50 AM
Posted to: Barack Obama, Campaigns, Democrats, Hillary Rodham Clinton, WH 2008
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