Obama supporters ready to rally at Nevada caucuses

Kevin Hagerty recalls the moment with utter joy.

Almost three years ago to the day -- on Jan. 20, 2009 -- he attended President Barack Obama's inauguration in Washington, D.C., and the White House "neighborhood ball" that night.

"We looked up, and there they were, dancing," Hagerty said of Obama and his wife, Michelle.

On stage, they swayed to "At Last" sung by Beyoncé.

Again is what Hagerty and other Obama supporters are working for in 2012 as they gather today for the Nevada Democratic caucuses: the president's re-election.

Because Obama faces no Democratic competition, the party also will use the meetings in the Las Vegas Valley and across Nevada to register voters, elect delegates to the county conventions and start building excitement for the party's candidates up and down the ticket.

A volunteer, Hagerty joined a phone bank making calls Friday at Obama campaign headquarters in Las Vegas to remind Democrats to show up at the neighborhood precinct meetings.

Registration starts at 11 a.m. at 57 sites in Clark County, mostly schools, community centers and libraries, and 118 locations statewide. The meetings start at 11:30 a.m. and may last an hour or two.

Only Democrats can participate in the caucuses, but the party allows same-day voter registration on site so newcomers and last-minute party-switchers are welcome.

To find your precinct location where you must caucus with your neighbors go to http://finder.pledgetocaucus.com/ or call the state party at 702-737-8683.

The Nevada Democratic caucus is getting little attention this year and is expected to draw far fewer than the 116,000 people who participated in 2008 when the competition was fierce between Obama and Hillary Clinton. They ended up splitting the votes and the delegates at stake.

Most eyes instead will be on today's South Carolina primary. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are battling for the lead in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, according to polls that show the former House speaker rising.

The Nevada Republican caucus is scheduled for Feb. 4. Romney is the favorite. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is his strongest competition, and Gingrich may be a conservative threat as well.

Nevada is a key battleground in the race for the White House, and Obama plans to visit Las Vegas on Wednesday and Thursday to remind voters he is looking for a repeat victory here in 2012. The Obama stop will come after he delivers his State of the Union speech on Tuesday in Washington.

Nevadans will be listening for his prescriptions to create jobs as the state suffers the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 13 percent and record home foreclosures.

Although Obama won't be in Nevada today, the president will deliver a message in a letter to the state's caucus-goers, state party spokesman Zach Hudson said.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis plan to rally the Democratic troops at one caucus site, Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas.

U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley and Nevada Democratic Party Chair Roberta Lange will speak to the caucus gathering at Palo Verde High School in Summerlin. Berkley is challenging U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., for his Senate seat in a race that is expected to be one of the closest in the country.

Both Reid and Berkley sent emails ahead of the caucus, urging Democrats to turn out. At least 3,870 had "pledged to caucus" ahead of time on the party's website, but more are likely to show up.

Reid said Democrats must gather in force to send a "powerful statement to the GOP that we're going to keep fighting for Nevada's middle class." He said that four years ago the Silver State played a big role in electing Obama and helping Democrats pass health care and Wall Street reforms.

"I want to urge you to show up this Saturday and help ensure another four years of big accomplishments for our country," Reid said in his email message.

Delegates elected today will go on to the county Democratic Party convention, which will elect delegates to the state convention. The state party meeting will elect delegates to the National Democratic Convention in September in Charlotte, N.C. Nevada will send 44 delegates and three alternates.

Kevin Hagerty, the Obama volunteer, said he has been phoning Democrats for weeks to pass along the message that they must help the president win a second term to finish the work he started. The biggest task: reviving the economy that was on a downward slide when Obama took office.

"People understand that this is a chance for people to come together and show solidarity," Hagerty said of the caucuses. "I know it's corny, but talk is cheap, and you have to really do something."

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.