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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



The Battle for Nevada

Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:15 AM by Domenico Montanaro

Bill Clinton is trying to use Obama's key labor support in Nevada to paint Obama as the "establishment" candidate, while his wife's campaign is the organizational underdog. It's clever but not true since most of the Nevada elite has been with her campaign for months. Clinton camp, though, has managed the Nevada expectations game pretty well and has done a good job painting Obama as the favorite this Saturday when frankly, it's a coin flip -- if you talk to folks in the know out here.

Las Vegas Sun delves into the local feuds among labor which is spilling into the Clinton-Obama battle.

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Comments

As usual, Bill can't tell the truth.
Barry Obama very popular with the rightwing in NV.  He scored the Review Journal's endorsement ahead of the caucus.  Add to that his campaigns urging Republicans to "be a Democrat for a day" and vote against Hillary Clinton, and Barry Obama is banking on a lot of Republicans/ Indies to out him over the top like in Iowa.
All you need to do to find out who won the debate is listen to Obama lover Stephanie Miller this morning.  She has been on for 25 minutes and hasn't even mentioned the debate.  That just tells you Hillary won.  
Arkansas was never a power player when it came to education under the Clinton's, so one has to wonder what the teachers union was smoking when they endorsed Hillary Clinton. Maybe drug tests are needed for those folks.  If the Culinary union had gone for Clinton, there would be no lawsuit, this is just another stupid mind game that the Clinton's are playing with folks that are against them.  They will do anything, ANYTHING, to destroy those who do not agree with them.

They really need to keep Bill out of the race.  They make it look like Bill is running for a third term instead of Hillary's first.
Media types listen to this kind of stuff.  Edwards is going to win however.  Best candidate, most electable, doesn't come with the clinton baggage.  He wins here, gets a huge boost into South Carolina and then this race, like the republican race is wide open.  Perhaps we will wind up with a McCain Edwards race.  Both taking federal matching funds, both with something to say.  Less money, less crazy commercials, less grief during the summer.
Bill Clintn is perfectly satisfied tarring his legacy with insane comment's. He & other's in the Clinton campaign, think voter's are'nt paying Attention. Let's Hope the dumbing down of America is in the Past.

" DELUSIONAL THINKING BY COMMON SENSE AMERICAN'S IS OVER "
I think what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas, and not have much of an impact on the rest of the race.
It is comical how Senator Obama goes from "no chance" to "establishment candidate" in just a few short months - perhaps he is a better manager than he is letting on! :)
The Bill spin machine has moved into third gear.  The more he acts as a surrogate for Hillary the more I lose respect for him.  It's a shame.  By campaigning for Hillary he has compelled all of us, who were former supporters, to take a second look at his presidency and his behavior; for a lot of us this hasn't been very pretty.  In retrospect I view the Clintons to be among the most self-serving politicians ever to victimize the populace.

The debate sucked (even though Obama looked the most presidential) because it threw soft balls to Hillary. Everyone (Tim Russert included) was afraid of hurting Hillary's feelings.  She was not called out for her evasive behavior and it was as Capehart said, the whole campaign was reset to before her Oct. 31st fiasco.   I hope the gloves come off again.  
Obama '08
Obama is the establishment candidate? That's right up there on the bizarre comment scale with Hillary being the most gifted person of her entire generation.
Bill Clintn is perfectly satisfied tarring his legacy with insane comment's. He & other's in the Clinton campaign, think voter's are'nt paying Attention. Let's Hope the dumbing down of America is in the Past.

" DELUSIONAL THINKING BY COMMON SENSE AMERICAN'S IS OVER "
____________________________________________________

Rick,ky... apparently the dumbing down of America is going strong.  That is evident with this post.  "comment's"  "voter's"  "other's"  "are'nt"  .. I think you are one child who was left behind.
|| so one has to wonder what the teachers
|| union was smoking when they endorsed
|| Hillary Clinton.

The teachers unions are not interested in a quality education. They are interested in making the most money for their members. Hillary's education plan doesn't benefit the children. It benefits the teachers. Makes it simple to why the teachers endorse Hillary.

It takes a village to raise teachers salaries.
 I thought Democracy was about empowering and allowing as many Americans to vote as possible. Who is blocking the idea of opening up caucus sites on the strip so all the workers in the hospitality industry can vote ? That does not sound too"American" to me.
Obama is running for the office of the president of the US. That will make him "establishment" and a Washington "insider" and all those other foolish buzz words flying around. He's no different from other politicians in that respect, so cut the crap.The only difference with him is that we no little to nothing about this guy. Now THATS scarey.
Paul Millers comment made my day that was funny.
I think it is time for the PRESS as well as candidates to discuss issues rather than take cheap shots at such emotional issues as race, gender, and now "establishment". Bill Clinton is shrewd, as is Hillary - they are experienced political foes who know how to turn every inconsistency of their history into "the press is against us" or "it was someone else's fault".

Obviously, the press is buffaloed by their power, and it is evident in their treatment of HRC with kid gloves in the debate last night. Who REALLY believes that the BET Exec referred to Obama's work as a civic leader? GIVE ME A BREAK!?

Ok, I digress. I just took a shot myself.

Obama has tried to run a gentleman's campaign, but I fear that the general population is too tied to sensationalist politics, and will never look up the real facts. They become convinced of their opinion from 30 second soundbites, from the significance the PRESS places on misstatements and, what I consider, misrepresentation of the intent of comments.

Bill and Hillary take advantage of their concept of history. If you listen to them, it is easy to forget the host of personal problems that plagued our nation during their tenure. Clintons are also experts at misrepresenting the facts: i.e. Bill was for the war before he wasn't. Bill was not having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinski because they asked ARE you, not HAVE YOU EVER.

Obama has not lied - EVER - in this campaign. His supporters are avid and not afraid to point out the Clinton's faults, but OBAMA NEVER HAS, unless asked. I know from experience he conference calls ALL VOLUNTEERS every morning and emphasizes that this campaign must be politely driven and encourages all volunteers to refrain from giving negative comments.

The decision to allow casino workers a temporary caucus location at work is a wonderful move toward fair voting. In Iowa we encountered many, many individuals frustrated by the fact they were required to work rather than participate in their selection of the next President of the US.

After so many years of apathy among the American people,it is exciting to see and inspired interest and hope.

If nothing else, Barack Obama has stirred the dreams of Americans who CAN.
Bill Clinton is getting more and more bizarre every day. From a partisan point a view, people can agree or disagree with him. But on a personal level, you start to wonder, with some of things he's stated in the last few months, if there's something wrong with him.

We as a country have always respected our former Presidents. Usually former Presidents are seen at ceremonial occasions, but with Clinton, and Carter too, that has changed. Both have been heavily political since they left office. Both have also been very controversial in what they say. Up until Clinton and Carter, former Presidents have stayed out of the day to day business of the current President. Maybe because of age, Carter has seemed less and less coherent in the past few years. but Clinton, who is still very young, has been revising history or just plain lying, on what seems now a daily basis. In addition to Carter, you start to wonder about Clinton's health.
Mitchel from New York.  I agree with your comments.  Bill needs to stop or rewind and stop trying to attack Obama and just talk about what his wife will do.   The old folks use to say that the more you talk about someone else you are giving that person power.    Then the Media comes along and say the Obama Campaign is out there throwing the punches.  The people need to hear from Hillary, not Bill.   Frankly, I thought that she would use him in the General versus the Primary.   Remember she had it sewed up, with the blessings of the Mainstream Media Pundits.  

Bill comes out as the Attack Dog for Hillary and says things to put his foot in his mouth.   If Hillary thinks it good, she uses it and then the Media says Obama is sparing with the Clinton campaign.   Go Figure.
Next time Barack's drug use during his teenage years is brought up by Hillary's henchmen, someone please ask her what she was doing in the '60's. I'm her age and I know what I was doing and I'll be willing to wager the majority of us who were in college in the late 60's were doing the same thing.
The Clintons will say and do anything to win.  The contrast between Hillary and Obama are stark:  With Hillary, one will get endless campaigning, fighting the battle of the '90s, and little governance.  With Obama it is the opposite.
Remember the 90s?  The Clintons engaged in endless fundraising and  in activities which raised many eyebrows.  The end result was the Dems lost elections in '00 and '04.  
I'm more and more disappointed in Bill and Hillary every day, and I really used to like them! Hillary is the new Karl Rove, just with different opinions on how the rules don't really apply to her. I can't believe the blatant lies that she and Bill are already starting to push - I can't imagine four more years of this BS. Bush was enough.

-Obama '08
Go to bed Bill and rest those bags. You are making crazy comments daily
To those still supporting Hillary: Your candidate will lose in November and drag Congressional Democrats down with her. Nominate Hillary, and you almost guarantee a Republican President and Congress come November. Obama wins in November, keeps control of Congress, and creates a new voting block for the 2000s - "Obama Republicans," as opposed to Reagan Democrats. You heard it here first.
I seriously follow to much politics, but am I crazy or did hillary tell a group that if she elected president oil with drop to 60$ a barrel


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