California Democrats target Nevada voters

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004 | 9:30 a.m.

California Democrats, feeling confident that Sen. John Kerry has an easy win in their state, continue to invade Nevada, a state where the outcome isn't so clear.

On Monday, 11 Democratic congressional members traveled to Las Vegas to talk about health care concerns and stump for Kerry and congressional candidate Tom Gallagher.

Already, hundreds of Californians have come to the state to register voters and work phone banks in favor of Kerry or other Democratic organizations. Gallagher, who is challenging Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., has relied heavily on contributions from California.

At a press conference Monday, the diverse California delegation said they planned to spend the day Monday learning more about Nevada's health care issues among blacks, Hispanics and Asian Americans by visiting clinics and community centers. They also planned to visit with women business owners.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., pointed out that, in 2002 and 2003, more than 40 percent of blacks in Nevada were uninsured, and there were fatalities in 17 of every 1,000 births involving black children, she said.

Also, nationwide, more than 60 percent of people newly diagnosed with AIDS are black women, she said.

Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., pointed to the growing number of Hispanics in Nevada and said that Kerry would fund prenatal care through Medicaid. Hispanic children, she said, have higher rates of diabetes and obesity, partly because of poor health care.

"This has not been a priority for the Bush administration or Mr. Porter," she said.

It's unprecedented for so many members of a delegation to "just pick up and go to a neighboring state," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., the leader of the Democratic delegation from California.

"Obviously, Nevada's vote counts very much," she said.