Clinton Hires Nevada Biden Campaign Head

LAS VEGAS (Nevada) - The former Nevada head of Sen. Joe Biden's presidential campaign has been swooped up by the Hillary Clinton camp, officials said Jan. 8.

Ronni Council, a veteran political strategist and state director of the Biden Nevada campaign, joined New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp as a senior advisor Tuesday, according to a press release from Clinton officials.

"With Sen. Biden out of the race, I had to quickly re-think my choice for president," Council said in the release. "After much consideration of the candidates' electability, experience, and the excitement surrounding their campaigns, I went back to the words of Joe Biden himself: 'When you caucus, you should close your eyes and imagine the person you're supporting is president at this very moment. Do you believe that person? Do you have confidence that person can handle any of these crises that you know exist?' It became clear to me very quickly Hillary Clinton was the only person I could imagine, right now, as my president."

Biden, D-DE, dropped out of the Democratic presidential race after finishing low in the Iowa Caucuses last week. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-CT, also withdrew from the race following the Iowa poll.

"I am not going away," Biden said in a Jan. 4 statement about dropping from the race. "I'm returning to the Senate as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and will continue to ensure that we protect the nation's security and show our country that Democrats know how to keep America safe, keep our commitment to our troops and restore our country's respect in the world."

Clinton, fresh off the heels of a narrow victory in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary Tuesday, finished second in Iowa to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Council, a Nevada native, has been active in the state Democratic Party for more than 10 years and has worked on several campaigns including a bid by Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson for governor, according to the Clinton release.

She is also known for her understanding of state issues and knowledge of the various constituency groups in the state, according to the Biden camp.