Thursday, April 25, 2019

Rural Nevada Democrats organize virtual campaign events for growing field of presidential candidates

Visiting rural areas is time-consuming and expensive for presidential candidates, which means they visit less frequently. But Kimi Cole wanted to see more candidates in her rural Nevada town of Minden, population 3,400, so she and other state Democrats are creating a series of virtual campaign visits for the growing field of candidates.

"They hope to launch the first series of online video conferences with the 2020 contenders within a month," Michelle Price reports for The Associated Press. "It could be a nationwide model as presidential candidates expand the traditional campaign map to seek support in places where Democrats have struggled, including rural America."

Cole, who chairs the Rural Nevada Democratic Caucus, said the project will allow rural residents to ask candidates about issues that might not get much attention in urban areas. It could give candidates in a crowded primary field a way to stand out, Price reports.

Organizers are trying to make sure they have adequate broadband to accommodate the events. The plan so far is to hold eight to 10 simultaneous video conferences in rural areas across the state. Democratic candidates would go on, one by one, and talk to participants. At least six candidates have said they're interested, Price reports.

Only one candidate, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, has campaigned in rural Nevada in person, speaking to about 100 people in Minden last week, Alexandra Jaffe and Meg Kinnard report for AP.

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