Antonio Villaraigosa

Despite surprise losses in yesterday’s Iowa caucuses, the campaigns of both N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney expressed confidence in their prospects for winning their party’s respective nominations today, both hosting post-Iowa conference calls with an eye to the other early-voting states.

“We have twenty-six more contests coming up” by Feb. 5, said Terry McAuliffe, former DNC Chair and Clinton’s national campaign chairman. 

“One huge advantage that we have in the Clinton campaign is that from day one, we were going to run a national campaign.”  McAuliffe cited fundraising numbers over $100 million and an organizational presence in all twenty seven Super Tuesday or earlier states for support.

Former Rep. James Bilbray (D-NV) with Congressman and former Navy Vice Admiral Joe Sestak (D-PA) at "Special Policy Discussion."It was a busy weekend for Hillary Clinton’s Nevada campaign as the mayor of the second largest city in the United States and the highest-ranking veteran in congressional history both campaigned in Clark County for the New York Senator.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is one of Clinton’s national campaign chairs, was in Las Vegas both Saturday and Sunday, participating in first a canvass kick-off meeting and then one of Clinton’s “Caucus 101” training events.  Villaraigosa joined Nevada Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen, whose endorsement was considered a political coup for the Clinton campaign, in knocking on doors Saturday after the kick-off, adding a touch of political celebrity to what is usually campaign drudgery.

Former Congressman James Bilbray (D-NV) accompanied Clinton’s other big-name surrogate this weekend, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), who as a former Navy Vice Admiral is the highest-ranking veteran to ever serve in the House of Representatives.  Sestak attended a “Special Policy Discussion” on foreign affairs in Henderson, aimed at bringing in veterans and policy wonks.

On behalf of N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced today that the campaign will begin airing its first radio ad in Nevada this week in Spanish, “Nuestra Candidata,” or “Our Candidate.”    

The ad will begin airing Tuesday.

“The formula for success in Nevada is very similar to the formula for success in California and throughout the country for the Hispanic vote and for any vote,” said Villaraigosa.  “You’ve got to invest in it.