Ken Berwitz
Until quite recently, Clinton’s campaign saw Nevada as achance for a face-saving victory after an anticipated defeat in New Hampshire.But that defeat turned out to be a trouncing. Now, the Sanders campaign istrying to prove that she can be beaten anywhere. Nevada, where the senatorfrom Vermont is facing off against Clinton\’s allies among organized laborleaders and a Latino-heavy electorate, has become the first test.
Clinton\’shopes rested on her overwhelming advantage among voters of color – part of a “firewall” her aides have claimed in many states that follow overwhelminglywhite Iowa and New Hampshire on the electoral calendar. Sanders, however, isbetting that his appeal among young and working-class voters, revealed sodramatically in New Hampshire, is strong enough to transcend race.
Nevada is a chance to disprove “this firewall fantasy thatthe Clinton campaign has put out there,” said Jeff Weaver, Sanders\’s campaignmanager. “If we do well, it destroys that myth.”
Sanders\’s aides say there isstrong evidence in their internal polling that young and working-class Latinosare coming his way. Even the Clinton campaign is now playing down expectations.
