Clinton plans Las Vegas stop to stump for Kerry

Benjamin Grove

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Former President Bill Clinton plans to stump for John Kerry in Las Vegas later this week, Democratic sources said.

Clinton's schedule is tentative and depends on his health, a Democratic National Committee spokesman said today.

But if Clinton is up to it, he intends to be in Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday morning, the DNC spokesman said. Clinton also plans to head to Santa Fe, New Mexico on Saturday afternoon and to Albuquerque Sunday, the DNC spokesman said. He then plans to go to his home state of Arkansas.

Clinton plans to campaign without Kerry in the three states, the Associated Press reported.

Details about Clinton's possible visit are still unknown, Kerry's Nevada spokesman Sean Smith said. Kerry organizers in Nevada were focused on Kerry's visit today, he said.

"We hope we see (Clinton), but we don't have anything planned yet," Smith said.

A thinner, less boisterous Clinton introduced Kerry at a rally with tens of thousands in Philadelphia Monday, his first campaign appearance since quadruple bypass heart surgery on Sept. 6.

The former president is campaigning for Kerry in Florida today. Kerry aides hope the former president will energize the Democratic base and increase voter turnout, especially black voters.

Critics have said Clinton could hurt Kerry because some voters have a negative impression of him. Smith said that criticism is "overblown."

"He's the only Democrat to win Nevada in a long time," Smith said. "He's proven he can get votes here."