ELKO, NEV. – On the eve of the Nevada presidential caucuses, Amy Klobuchar was separated from Las Vegas, the state's largest city, by hundreds of miles of desert.
Instead she found herself in Elko, a city of about 20,000 people, nestled next to the Ruby Mountains and dotted with Western shops and cowboy-themed museums. To a crowd of more than 100 people packed into a convention center hall, the only thing Klobuchar mentioned more than President Donald Trump was cattle.
"I was the only person [on the debate stage] who knew that cattle is a big deal around here," she said to cheers. That gave her pause: "Huh, that didn't happen in Las Vegas, amazing."
Klobuchar was appealing directly to rural Nevada voters ahead of the caucuses Saturday, in the third state to cast ballots in the fractured Democratic presidential race. It comes at a critical moment for Klobuchar, who surged to finish third in New Hampshire and needs to prove to voters that the strong showing wasn't just a moment. A disappointing finish could muddle her message of energy and electability ahead of the South Carolina primary next weekend and, more important, Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states, including Minnesota, will weigh in on the race.
But she faces challenges in a state like Nevada, which, outside of rural areas like Elko, has a far more diverse electorate than Iowa and New Hampshire. Recent polls show Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leading in the state, with Klobuchar in fifth and sixth place, struggling to break 10% in support from caucusgoers.
Her final swing through the state Friday took her from Elko to Reno, both cities in Nevada's Second Congressional District, home to rural communities and more moderate Democratic voters, as well as conservatives who could potentially break away from Trump.
"What I'm about is actually not leaving stones unturned, and not representing just half of America but all of America," Klobuchar said. "To me, that means going not just where it's easy to get to, going not just where it's always comfortable, but where it's uncomfortable."
Pamella Myrick showed up to her Elko event after watching Klobuchar in the Nevada debate. She voted for Trump in 2016 but is interested in supporting Klobuchar if she shows viability in the race.