Nevada SEIU airs TV ad

Here's a new television ad from Nevada SEIU highlighting Obama's union endorsements.

State Sen. Gil Cedillo to endorse Barack Obama

California State Sen. Gil Cedillo will endorse Sen. Barack Obama today according to a spokesperson for Cedillo.

Expect a large of number of California legislators to announce their support for Obama soon.

In Nevada, Obama spoke out against efforts to shut down at-large caucus sites designed to help out casino workers.

"Ever since I got the support of Local 226, the lawyers decided to get involved. The rules were OK when the other campaigns thought they would win the Culinary endorsement," Obama said.

"As soon as you decided to support the outsider, the working people instead of the big shots, all the sudden they decided they wanted to change the rules."

Video: Culinary Workers Union Rally with Barack

Watch this video of Barack Obama at the the Culinary Workers Union rally in Las Vegas. Si se puede! (Yes we can!)

More on Culinary Workers endorsement

Here's the ABC News article:

Obama Endorsed by Culinary Workers Union

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January 09, 2008 9:11 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Sunlen Miller Report: Despite losing Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, Sen. Barack Obama secured the endorsement of the Culinary Workers union.

The endorsement of the 60,000-member Culinary Workers union is seen as the biggest get in Nevada, a state which votes Jan. 19.

At 11 p.m. E.T. on Tuesday, a 12-member panel which controls the 60,000-member Culinary Workers union held a conference call to decide which '08 candidate to endorse.

The panel making the decision is the executive committee of UNITE-HERE, Culinary's parent union.

“We believe that Obama is the candidate who can bring the country together and we are proud to support his candidacy," Shauna Hamel, Executive Vice President of the union says.

The backing of the 60,000-member union is seen as important because the state's Democratic Party is only expecting 40,000 Democrats to participate in the caucuses.

Culinary's members work in casinos up and down the Las Vegas Strip.

Obama will travel to Las Vegas on Friday to formally accept the endorsement.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/obama-endorsed.html

Culinary Workers Union endorses Barack Obama

ABC News reported that Culinary Workers Union 226 has officially endorsed Sen. Barack Obama.

The 60,000 member union, the largest in Nevada, has traditionally been a potent force in the state with a well-oiled and energetic political organization.

Across the nation in Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also announced her support for the Illinois senator.

Many endorsements expected today for Obama

Although some potential supporters may back out at the last second, Sen. Barack Obama should get many key endorsements today.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) already announced their support for Obama this morning.

According to the New York Times, both Nevada's Culinary Workers Union and the national labor coalition to which the latter belongs, known as Unite Here, will endorse the Illinois senator simultaneously at 11 am EST.

Here in California, state senators Alan Lowenthal of Los Angeles and Dean Florez of the Central Valley endorsed Obama yesterday. Today it is expected that among others, Ted Lieu and Nicole Parra from the state assembly and State Sen. Elaine Alquist will announce their support.

Obama Update

Reports of high turnout in the New Hampshire primary today should be good news for Sen. Barack Obama whose base consists of many young, first-time voters.

In addition to the possible Culinary Workers Union endorsement, the word is out that Unite Here, a broader labor coalition that includes Nevada's culinary workers may give Obama his first national union support.

In South Carolina, former Lt. Governor and State Rep. Robert Barber announced his endorsement of the Illinois senator today.

Hillary making Super Tuesday last stand?

According to some reports, if Hillary Clinton loses tonight she may for all practical purposes pull out of Nevada and South Carolina for a last stand in the two dozen Feb. 5 states.

Reportedly she's running out of money and doesn't want to waste resources on small states like Nevada and South Carolina were momentum is building for Obama.

Culinary Workers Union to endorse Obama?

Various sources including NBC's Tim Russert are reporting that Culinary Workers Union 226 in Nevada will endorse Barack Obama today as New Hampshire holds the nation's first primary.

The union's endorsement is seen by many as a ticket to victory in Nevada where culinary workers in casinos outnumber members of any other union and have traditionally delivered a bloc vote.