NVDems make show of unity behind Obama

LAS VEGAS – Democratic party leaders and elected officials assembled in both Las Vegas and Reno today in a show of unity behind Ill. Sen. Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency.  In Las Vegas, an entire platoon of Democratic leaders assembled for a photo opportunity at the state party headquarters, headed by state Sen. Steven Horsford (D-Las Vegas), the leader of Obama’s Nevada campaign, and Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, formerly head of N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s effort in the state.

Both Obama's and Clinton's campaigns struggled at every stage to secure Nevada's delegates to the Democratic National Convention. At times, particularly during a lawsuit to shut down at-large caucus sites on The Strip and following an aborted Clark County Convention, the rivalry brought accusations that many predicted would fester after the primaries.

Today's photo opportunity, held one day before Obama's first visit to Nevada since securing his party's nomination, was an attempt to allay those concerns.

"Never before have two grassroots campaigns been more effective at registering and inspiring voters," said Horsford. "Together these teams and our organization will be unstoppable on Nov. 5."

"Some of us standing here didn't agree during the presidential primary process but, now is the time we are helping to unite, to come together, to join forces in helping to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States."

"On the day that she endorsed Sen. Obama," said Reid.  "Hillary Clinton said that life is too short, time is too precious and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been.  We have to work together for what still can be.  I agree with that."

Nevada Clinton supporters, like Reid, remained loyal to her throughout the process, mounting aggressive GOTV efforts on days of the county and state conventions.  Also, the two Nevada superdelegates who had endorsed Clinton, state Sen. Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) and U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Las Vegas), remained behind her even after the contest had swung irresistibly toward Obama.  Titus attended the photo opportunity and Berkley endorsed Obama last week.

At least one of the elected officials in attendance, however, wasn't so certain that bitterness from the caucuses was completely gone.

"I think there's still a little bit of resentment, a little hurt," said Assemblyman Harvey Munford (D-Las Vegas), an active Obama supporter during the primaries. "I can understand [Clinton supporters] coming together in terms of party unity, but I don't know where their hearts are."