Democratic candidates to speak to Culinary

In addition to their other campaign activities, all three Democratic presidential candidates campaigning in Las Vegas this week will address members of the Culinary union, the union said Tuesday.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will rally with union members at 10 a.m. Friday, while former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., will address the group at 6 p.m. the same day. The events are open only to union members.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will speak to union members Thursday at 1 p.m., as previously announced.

It will be the third meeting with the powerful 60,000-member union for all three candidates. The union represents most hotel workers on the Strip and is expected to be a powerful organizing force in the first-time early Democratic presidential caucuses to be held in Nevada on Jan. 19.

Culinary is locked in an increasingly contentious battle with MGM Mirage over renewal of a contract that expired in May. Last week, the union scheduled a strike authorization vote for September, meaning that its members will decide whether to authorize the negotiating committee to call for strikes if no contract has been signed.

In previous visits, Edwards and Obama have pledged to walk picket lines with union members if the situation arises.

Clinton will be back in the state Monday for a "conversation with rural Nevadans" at the Skate Zone in Pahrump.

Meanwhile, two Republicans are also scheduled to hit Nevada next week. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will give a 7 a.m. speech Monday in Elko, while Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., will hold multiple campaign events in Las Vegas on Tuesday.