Key union to endorse; races still up in the air

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080106/NEWS/801060329/1232/NEWS19

ANJEANETTE DAMON
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 1/6/2008

The Iowa Caucus set the stage for a much more competitive Democratic primary race in Nevada, but two wild cards stand in the way: New Hampshire and the Culinary Union.

The winner of New Hampshire's primary on Tuesday and the hotly awaited endorsement decision by Nevada's largest union are expected to reset the dynamics of the Silver State campaign in the weeks before Democrats go to caucus on Jan. 19.

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For Republicans, the race remains as fluid as it did before Iowa, observers said. And the results from New Hampshire, a state similar to Nevada in libertarian philosophy, could have a stronger impact on voters decisions here than the Iowa results.

In Iowa, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois bested U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York -- considered both the national and the Nevada frontrunner-- and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

Those results give Obama his best chance to breakout of his second place standing in Nevada polls, observers said. But the decision by New Hampshire voters could help cement Clinton's lead in the Silver State or make Nevada the next primary battlefield.

"If either Hillary or Edwards do better, there could be a long drawn out fight here for the nomination," said Dan Hart, a Democratic strategist in Las Vegas who is not aligned with any of the campaigns.

FULL story at link.