Will Edwards Be Doomed in Nevada Because of his Anti-Gambling Vote?

Now, John Edwards was a Senator for only six years. However, these few years are surely enough to dig up a lot of unpleasant votes and statements. In hindsight unpleasant, that is. This time it's not about Iraq, this time it's all about gambling:

Former Sen. John Edwards’s (D-N.C.) strong support of prohibiting gambling on college sports is expected to hamper his chances in the Nevada presidential caucus.

Lawmakers in the Silver State have long criticized the legislation; in 2003, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called it “anti-Nevada.”

This was a Republican bill. However it did not stop Edwards of co-sponsoring it:

Edwards, a formal cosponsor of the bill, didn’t hold back when lobbying for it. During a March 29, 2000 hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Edwards said, “Instead of rooting for a university because of loyalty, bookies in Nevada … root for a team for one reason, and only one reason: money.”

He later added, “We will hear today from folks in Nevada about how well-regulated the gaming industry is … We will not hear much, though, about the millions of dollars they give annually to politicians. You will not hear them talk about the influence their money has in Washington.”

Edwards said enactment of the bill would prevent Nevada casinos from “raking in close to a billion dollars annually on amateur athletics.”

Ouch. The Hill believes this will hurt Edwards with Nevada voters. Might be. What I'm thinking is how he'll now do on the money side. Think the Casinos are gonna give him much? Will possible labor support outweigh this?

Read the whole thing over at The Hill.