Clinton, Obama profess love of casinos
16th January, 2008
Democratic Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have told US voters they are both supporters of responsible gambling.
The tightly-fought race between the two potential nominees has seen numerous twists and turns over the past few days as Democrats around the country gear up to make their selection in nationwide caucuses.
Noteworthy incidents have included Obama's surprise victory in Iowa and Clinton's tearful response to a facetious question about her haircut, but the fiercely competitive rivals appear to be united in their approach to at least one hot potato topic - casino gambling.
Both candidates have publically declared their support for the industry, with Obama hailing the ability of casino houses to cover budget deficits and Clinton voicing support for the economic contributions made by businesses in Las Vegas.
And their advisors will be urging the two hopefuls to stick to their guns, aware of numerous previous cases where support for gambling initiatives has galvanised public support for politicians.
Analysts point to the election of governors Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Steve Beshear of Kentucky as evidence that alliances with casino interests leads to political gains.
