Why Democrats Chose Las Vegas for First Debate
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/why-democrats-chose-las-vegas-first-debate-n443731
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Those numbers are music to Democrats' ears. The Nevada unions story merges two important voters group for the party - Hispanics and organized labor - and presents a sharp contrast to the older, largely Caucasian industrial unions in the Midwest and Northeast have seen declining fortunes in the last few decades. And that gives the state special electoral significance for Democrats for two reasons.
First, Nevada stands out among early Democratic nominating contests for its relatively high union coverage numbers. The state is third on the presidential nominating calendar, behind Iowa (where 12.6% of worker are represented by unions) and New Hampshire (11.5% of workers are represented).
Nevada is the state where the post-Iowa and post-New Hampshire "next steps in the nomination" stories begin. That could be a crucial moment when you look at how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders seem to be splitting those first two states right now.
Second, of the states that are considered crucial swing states every four years - Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, New Mexico, New
Hampshire - Nevada has the highest percentage of those represented by unions, along with a large Hispanic population, 28% of the state's 2.8 million people.
Tuesday night's debate will feature questions on range of topics, from immigration to the economy, but pay attention to how the candidates answer questions that are hot-button issues with organized labor such right-to-work legislation. The debate will be televised nationally, but the candidates will be making sure they talk to the attendees in particular.
Nevada's union voters are a linchpin constituency in a linchpin state.
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