Lawrence Weekly

NBC's Tim Russert and Brian Williams at the Cashman Theater Tuesday.: Getty Images PhotoPolitickerNV was inside the Cashman Theater debate hall during Tuesday night’s Democratic debate.  Here’s a sneak peek of what went on in the hall while the cameras weren’t rolling.

The crowd was in high spirits before any of the debate’s participants even took the stage.  Nevada Democratic chairwoman Jill Derby and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid each received partial standing ovations as they thanked the various sponsors of the debate, the 100 Black Men of America, the African American Democratic Leadership Council, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, IMPACTO, the College of Southern Nevada, the Nevada Democratic Party and NBC.

“Isn’t it great to be a Democrat in Nevada tonight?” Reid asked the crowd to cheers and applause.

Nev. Sen. Harry Reid previews the Jan.15 debate at a press conference Monday: Seated from left are John Hammond, Jill Derby, Vicki Frazier-Williams, and Hugh WallaceThe sponsors of tomorrow’s Democratic presidential debate gathered for a press conference today to preview the debate and discuss Nevada’s impact on the nominating process.  Among those attending were U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Nevada Democratic chairwoman Jill Derby, John Hammond, president and CEO of the 100 Black Men of America; David C. Lizárraga, chairman of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly of the African American Democratic Leadership Council, Tony Sanchez, Chairman of IMPACTO; Dr. Carlos Campo, Interim VP of Academic Affairs at the College of Southern Nevada and Phil Alongi, executive producer at NBC.

“We are so delighted that the national Democratic committee decided to diversify its process in the primary process of electing a president and choosing a candidate,” said Derby.  “And with Nevada, which got the nod thanks to Sen. Reid, we bring our wonderful diversity and this debate that we’ll be having tomorrow is really the expression of Nevada’s diversity.”