Rory Reid: “We’re ready to let Nevadans break the tie”

Still beaming with success from N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s N.H. win, Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid spoke with PoltickerNV.com tonight at Hillary headquarters in Las Vegas about her win, Nevada’s impact on the Democratic primary and the “risks” of endorsing a candidate.   

Good night for the campaign?

We’re excited.  This is going to give us momentum and we’re ready to let Nevadans break the tie.

What would you say now about reports that Clinton could be pulling out of Nevada?

She’s competed in Nevada since last January and given what’s gone on tonight I don’t think she has any reason to change her plan.

Nevada, like Iowa, is a caucus state.  With Clinton's loss in Iowa and win in New Hampshire, is there a concern that she won't play well in other caucus states?

Iowa is a unique place and Nevada is much different.  It has a much more diverse population with significant minority populations and a significant labor community and we think that Sen. Clinton will do well here.  The good news is that Nevadans will have an extended period of time, ten days to examine the candidates and listen to them.  I’m confident that when they do that they will recognize that she is the most qualified candidate, that she’s ready to lead the country and that she has history of bringing change and not just talking about it.

Patrick Coolican of the Las Vegas Sun reported today that your endorsement of Sen. Clinton represents a personal political risk.  Are you concerned at all about political fallout if she can't follow up her N.H. win? 

I endorsed Sen. Clinton because I believe in her.  I continue to believe in her and I didn’t evaluate the risks.  I want to do what’s right for the country and I think she is.  That’s why I think Nevadans are lucky because they have the same opportunity that I did; to evaluate these candidates and I believe they’ll reach the same conclusion that I did, that she’s going to take us to where we need to be.