SNEAK PEEK: Running with the Big Dogs

January 17, 2008— -- 2 days until the Nevada caucuses
2 days until South Carolina GOP primary

With only two days to go until Nevada's potentially "tie-breaking" Democratic caucuses, Barack Obama received a big boost on Thursday.

A federal judge ruled that the Nevada Democratic Party can go forward with nine at-large precincts on the Vegas strip that are intended to help thousands of hotel-casino workers attend a caucus while at work rather than having to go to their home precincts to participate.

Supporters of Hillary Clinton had challenged the at-large districts in court claiming that it was unfair for shift workers on the Strip to be able to caucus at their workplaces when similar provisions have not been made in other parts of the state.

The decision is expected to help Obama because he has the support of the Culinary Workers union which represents the casino workers.

Obama reacted to the ruling following a roundtable discussion in San Francisco, Calif.

"I'll be honest with you," said Obama. "We had nothing to do with setting up these rules. We simply were planning to win under the rules that had been set up. Some of the people who set up the rules apparently didn't think wed be as competitive as we were and tried to change them last minute."

"But you know," he added, "I think the judge was clear that you can't change the rules six days before the caucus and that any alteration would have disenfranchised maids, dishwashers, bellhops who work on the strip, so just in terms of politics, we are confident of our organization on the ground. But in terms of policy, I think it was the right decision to make sure that as many people in the caucuses participate as possible."

Clinton spokesman Jay Carson reacted to the ruling by noting that the former first lady's campaign was not a party to the lawsuit. He also reaffirmed Clinton's belief that it is unfair for shift workers on the Strip to have access to an at-large precinct while shift workers elsewhere in the state do not.

"While we were not involved in this lawsuit, and have always said that we would play by the rules that we're given, it has always been our hope that every Nevadan should have equal access and opportunity to participate in the caucus," said a statement from Clinton spokesman Jay Carson.

"Make no mistake," he continued, "the current system that prohibits 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. We also are concerned with recent news reports about voter intimidation tactics that would further discourage some Nevadans from participating on Saturday. Our strategy remains the same --