 January 19, 2008
Posted: 04:51 PM ET
(CNN) — As Nevada Democrats gathered for the state’s caucuses Saturday, Hillary Clinton’s campaign told reporters their supporters were worried about voter intimidation – just hours after former President Bill Clinton said he had personally witnessed voter harassment. CNN has since projected that Hillary Clinton has won Saturday’s Democratic vote in Nevada. “We have heard from many people on the ground over the past few days who are concerned about voter intimidation,” spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a conference call with reporters. Spokeswoman Karen Hicks said many casino workers had thought they could only participate in caucuses at the controversial at-large caucus sites if they supported Barack Obama, and that the Clinton campaign had heard reports of confusion and voter intimidation. Friday night, Bill Clinton told a Nevada crowd that he and his daughter Chelsea had visited a hotel, and seen a union representative trying to strong-arm Clinton supporters. “Today when my daughter and I were wandering through the hotel, and all these culinary workers were mobbing us telling us they didn’t care what the union told them to do, they were gonna caucus for Hillary,” he said. “There was a representative of the organization following along behind us going up to everybody who said that, saying 'if you’re not gonna vote for our guy were gonna give you a schedule tomorrow so you can’t be there.' So, is this the new politics? I haven’t seen anything like that in America in 35 years. So I will say it again – they think they're better than you.”
Wolfson did not directly address the former president’s claims Saturday. “I haven’t talked to the president since he made those comments, but it’s one I’m going to have to speak to him before I comment on that.” And the Vegas papers haven't found any evidence of the kind of straightforward voter suppression Clinton reports. The Obama campaign has suggested the Clinton campaign file formal complaints if it has evidence. Culinary Workers Political Director Pilar Weiss told Politico the allegations were “ludicrous.” She said the union is "aware that some workers aren't going to vote our way" and doesn't engage in intimidation. "We have found it shocking that President Clinton has gotten so engaged in promoting these accusations," she said. –CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand Filed under: Hillary Clinton • Nevada |
 
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