Tonight: Dem Prez Debate in Nevada

The Nevada Democratic Party, the 100 Black Men of America, the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, IMPACTO, the African American Democratic Leadership Council and the College of Southern Nevada have teamed up to sponsor a two-hour debate at Las Vegas' Cashman Center on Tuesday, January 15, 2008. The debate, featuring John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (and maybe Dennis Kucinich), will be televised on MSNBC at 7:00 PM MST in New Mexico and live streamed on MSNBC.com. Brian Williams will be the debate moderator, joined by Tim Russert. Natalie Morales will ask the candidates questions submitted online at MSNBC.com and other websites

Kucinich In or Out?
Dennis Kucinich sued NBC to allow him to take part in the event after the network retracted its earlier invitation to participate. After Bill Richardson dropped out of the race, NBC changed its rules to allow only candidates who got double-digit support from voters in Iowa and New Hampshire. Yesterday, Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson ruled that Kucinich must be allowed to participate. If he is excluded, Thompson said he would issue an injunction to stop the televised debate. Thompson called it a matter of fairness and said Nevada voters will benefit if they hear from more than just the top three candidates. NBC countered that it will appeal and seek an immediate hearing before the Nevada Supreme Court.

Nevada Dem Caucus
The Nevada Democratic Caucus will be held in hundreds of locations starting at 11:00 AM PST on Saturday, January 19th. Caucus sites include nine special caucus locations within resorts on the Las Vegas Strip that were set up so shift workers can participate.

On Friday, six Democrats and a teachers union reportedly allied with Clinton claiming the rules enabling Las Vegas Strip waitresses, dishwashers and bellhops to caucus inside the resorts violate state law and federal equal protection guarantees. Other caucus-goers lack the same access, the suit argues. Barack Obama has received the endorsement of the Culinary Workers Union, many of whom work on the Strip. A federal judge is expected to rule on the case this week.

A poll released Monday by the Reno Gazette-Journal shows Clinton, Obama and Edwards in a statistical dead heat in Nevada.