POLITICAL EYE: President makes time for Culinary workers

Near the end of a self-described "campaign extravaganza fly-around of America," President Barack Obama could have taken a break after a late-night rally in Las Vegas.

Not only had the president already covered thousands of miles and multiple campaign stops on Wednesday, he also was scheduled to fly overnight from Nevada to Florida to campaign again Thursday morning.

But before leaving Las Vegas he managed to squeeze in one more stop at Bellagio where he spoke to a group of front-line hospitality workers.

"You are what makes Las Vegas run, you are what makes the Strip run," Obama told the workers who cheered and clamored for photos and handshakes. "And all of you represent the dignity of work."

So why would the president of the United States forgo sleep and other business to talk with a small group of resort workers in a back-of-the-house employee cafeteria?

Because they weren't just ordinary workers. They were members of Culinary Local 226, a group the president and other Democrats are betting can help them hold Nevada in Obama's column.

It's important because, depending on what happens in other swing states, Nevada could be key to the national election.

And the power of the 60,000-member union is key to Obama if he wants to win Nevada. During his talk with the workers, Obama was joined by Geoconda Arguello-Kline, president of Culinary Local 226.

"I think it tells you how much he knows those people are the people who are going to win the election for him," University of Nevada, Las Vegas political science professor David Damore said of the Bellagio stop. "In many other places unions are essentially fighting for survival. In Nevada it is a place where unions are probably going to get stronger."

The Culinary union supported Obama in the 2008 primary against Hillary Clinton and again in the general election against U.S. Sen. John McCain. Obama beat McCain handily in Nevada.

The union support is more critical now as polls show Obama clinging to a slight lead in Nevada.

And Damore said the U.S. Senate race between Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley and Sen. Dean Heller could be even closer, with Berkley depending on Obama turning out enough Democratic votes to push her past Heller.

An example of why Culinary support can be so helpful to a candidate is the union's dedication to politics. About 90 workers have taken leave from their day job to go on the union payroll and campaign full time.

"The Republicans will always say, 'We have volunteers,' " Damore said. "But at the end of the day I put my money on the people who do this cycle after cycle."

Such dedicated support is even more helpful in Nevada because so much of the state's population is concentrated in two urban areas, with the bulk of the citizenry in Clark County.

"So you get the bang for the buck here where you might not in a bigger state," Damore said.

That's probably why in addition to praising the union members for their hard work, the president implored them to vote early so there is no risk of something happening that could jeopardize the casting of even one Democratic ballot.

"You have got to go and cash in your chips now because you never know," Obama said. "If you wait until Election Day, it might turn out you are sick that day. Or it might turn out that you have to work a double shift that day. Or it might turn out that you might have to go pick up your kid that day. And suddenly it turns out that you haven't voted."

- Benjamin Spillman

SANDOVAL MENTIONED FOR ROMNEY JOB

The presidential election might not be over but already people are guessing who might wind up with top jobs in the next administration depending on how things turn out on Nov. 6.

One Nevadan's name came up last week as The National Journal tried to stock a Mitt Romney Cabinet.

"Romney insiders say that Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a rising star in the party, fits the bill perfectly" to become Interior secretary, the magazine reported. "Typically a Western governor fills this spot."

Well, yes and no. Former Govs. Dirk Kempthorne (Idaho) and Bruce Babbitt (Arizona) were among recent Interior bosses. But Gale Norton was Colorado attorney general and Manuel Lujan was a congressman from New Mexico before heading the department.

Reaction from Sandoval? "We won't be commenting," spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner said.

Besides Sandoval, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez "could also be in the mix," according to the National Journal, as could Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno. If Romney wins Colorado, the job could go to former Rep. Bob Beauprez, who has worked hard to deliver the state.

Or, if Romney needed some red meat for the base, he could go with Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, "perhaps the member of Congress most reviled by environmentalists." Inhofe is very pro-drilling and believes climate change is not real.

No Nevadans made the speculation list for a second Obama administration, although Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, has been mentioned from time to time as a possible Interior candidate.

- Steve Tetreault

GROUPS SHELL OUT MILLIONS IN STRETCH

Liberal and conservative groups spent more than $4 million last week seeking to influence the outcome of Nevada's U.S. Senate race.

The big-money groups from outside Nevada have now topped $22.6 million in the hotly contested race with most of it paying for negative television ads against Republican Dean Heller and Democrat Shelley Berkley.

Crossroads GPS, a conservative 501c group that Karl Rove helped to launch, was the top spender last week at just over $1 million. The group has spent more than $5 million in total.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees labor union's political action committee was second, spending $700,000 last week. The group has spent just more than $1.9 million on the contest, according to reports compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

The $22.6 million eclipses the $19.2 million that outside groups spent in Nevada two years ago when Republican Sharron Angle unsuccessfully challenged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

While the Nevada sum might seem staggering, big-money groups have gone bigger in Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. They've spent nearly $39 million so far on the U.S. Senate race in Virginia.

Nevada is also seeing substantial outside spending in two of its House districts where the big-money groups are outspending the candidates.

More than $4.4 million has been spent in the 3rd Congressional District race between Republican Joe Heck and Democrat John Oceguera. The two candidates had spent just less than $3 million (and had less than $850,000 in the bank) as of Oct. 17, according to their most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Outside groups have spent just more than $4 million in the 4th Congressional District contest between Republican Danny Tarkanian and Democrat Steven Horsford. The two candidates spent nearly $2.2 million (and had less than $200,000 in the bank) as of Oct. 17, according to FEC reports.

- Peter Urban

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285 . Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC. Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Peter Urban at purban@stephensmedia.com or at 202-783-1760.