Hillary Clinton Wins Nevada Democratic Caucus, Thanks to Clark County (Harry Reid)

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has defeated socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Nevada Democratic caucus, PPD projects. Clinton’s margin in Clark County, 52% to 47%, will push her ahead of Sanders who basically dominated the rest of the state.

Entrance polls showed Clinton holding the lead among the state’s influential union voters. PPD has learned that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is retiring this cycle, made a call to the head of the culinary union the night before the vote to give Clinton the edge.

Reid had previously said he would not endorse. Earlier returns and entrance polls gave the Clinton campaign reason for concern as it relates to Hispanic caucus-goers, but Clark County, which represents 70% of the vote in the Nevada Democratic caucus, completely changed the results of the returns.

The win gives a stumbling Clinton a boost heading into South Carolina and the rest of the South, where black voters make up at least half of the Democratic primary electorate. Sanders has all the energy and is far stronger than Mrs. Clinton among younger voters, but they will not be as influential in the coming contests.

Clinton eked out a weak win in Iowa and got trounced by roughly 20 points in New Hampshire. Taking a roughly 5-point lead in Nevada, which could very well expand, gives her the wind at her back and slows the Bern in the coming weeks.

More on Entrance Polls

Union households backed Mrs. Clinton 56% to 43%, according to entrance polls, while women backed the former secretary of state 56% to 41%. First-time caucus-goers went for Sanders 54% to 43%, and he is winning under 45 years-old by a huge 76% to 20% margin.

Only 9% of Nevada Democratic caucus-goers said terrorism is the most important issue facing the nation today. A whole 30% said they went into the caucus persuadable, with only 70% saying they were firm on their candidate.