Cisneros makes pitch to Nevada

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, July 30, 2004 | 9:19 a.m.

BOSTON -- The encouragement for Nevada to go Democratic continues, this time with a former Clinton cabinet member telling delegates the state can make history by going for John Kerry.

Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton told the Nevada delegation Thursday "The Kerry campaign respects Nevada," Cisneros said. "Nevada is important."

Cisneros said as the East Coast states close their polls on election night and tally up their votes, Nevada has the chance to give Kerry the push he needs to take the presidency.

"I want Tom Brokaw to call Nevada for Kerry, that as a result of your votes, the next president of the United States is John Kerry because Nevada put him over the top," Cisneros said. "That's a piece of history you want to be part of."

CENTER STAGE: Rep. Shelly Berkley and the other Democrat women House members took the stage Thursday night hours before Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., accepted the party's nomination.

The convention floor held signs saying "Strong Women Strong America" as the Rep. Louise Slaughter addressed the crowd.

Berkley stood just behind Slaughter, giving at least half of her some television time.

PIN ON NEVADA: There are at least three distinct Nevada buttons sold at the Convention. "The winning team" showing Kerry and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., while another with the same slogan shows photos of Kerry and Edwards with a picture of the state. The third is a blue button saying "Sliver State for Kerry" with Nevada written across the bottom.

WHO'S NOT A SUPPORTER? According to the hundreds of buttons available for purchase a lot of different people support John Kerry and John Edwards bid for the White House. Almost every ethnic group has their own button: German, Iranian, Kuwaiti, Iraqi, Polish, Irish, Greek and dozens of others. There is also "vertically challenged," "garage sale moms," "former hippies," "sky divers," "big game hunters," and "lobstermen," with too many others to list.

SNACK TIME: If buttons or T-Shirts are not enough, snack food items also seem to be popular souvenirs. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has his own jars of salsa complete with his photo on the label. Meanwhile, PS Treats in Las Vegas had bags of caramel corn with a "Kerry-Edwards" logo sticker at the Nevada delegates breakfast on Thursday.

A BAD HAND: Decks of Democratic playing cards, going for $12, including cards of Kerry, his vice presidential running mate John Edwards, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and other prominent party players.

Missing in the deck -- Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada. How does the senior senator from Nevada not rate a playing card?

UH, SECURITY? Convention goers cannot bring fruit, bottles of water, umbrella and other "dangerous" items into the Fleet Center, yet convention staff pass out American flags on wooden sticks and signs on long cardboard poles.