1:05 pm Monday  

This weekend, the Clinton campaign came to northern Nevada . Today it’s Obama with an economic roundtable and rally in Reno , followed by appearances in Fallon and Carson City . 

The economic roundtable is all about the housing crisis. The candidate sitting with four local folks who, one way or the other, find themselves directly affected by the mortgage crunch. Obama listens more than talks, but weaves their stories into his call for reform in Washington saying the lending companies have spent $185 million in the past couple of years blocking reform.  

Following the roundtable, he stands for some quick one on one interviews with the local media. We’ll post the entire interview on our website as we’ve done with others.  

I ask him about the roundtables, the teachers’ union lawsuit against the “at large” caucus sites in Las Vegas . Asked if he’s saying if the Culinary Union had endorsed Senator Clinton there would be no lawsuit, he says ”let’s be realistic, look at the timetable.”  

After the one on ones he sits for an extended interview with ABC in an upstairs room, Below a large crowd waits. I haven’t heard a ticket count. My quick guess is between 2500 and 3000.  

He’s due in Fallon later this afternoon. Bill Clinton was there yesterday. My brother, a Republican, called Saturday night as soon as word was out. He may make both events. Why not, it’s history          of a sort that has rarely happened in my old hometown.  

Rural Nevada has never had this kind of attention. Another indication how our place on the national political map has changed.  

Monday 1:30 at Obama Rally Downtown Reno Events Center .  

Obama finally takes the stage….begins with thanks to local organizers, the nurses at Renown Medical Center recently organized by the Service Employees International Union. The SEIU endorsed Obama last week.  

Another local touch: a mention of the flood victims in Fernley. Obama says he’s talked with Mayor Todd Cutler, expressing his concerns.  

The speech itself hits by now familiar themes pressure on the middle class being squeezed by economic forces beyond their control, unprotected by an inattentive and divided and, or course, change. No political event this season leaves that word unused.  

There are, by a show of hands, a sizeable number of independents in the crowd and not a few Republicans.