In a conference call with reporters, the former North Carolina senator's rural Nevada coordinator, Dee Holzel of Winnemucca, announced that the campaign is opening an office in Elko.

And Edwards on Sunday will travel to Reno for the fifth time, holding an event at Hug High School.

It all adds up to a powerhouse effort in the northern part of the state, another Edwards supporter, Assemblyman Bernie Anderson of Sparks, said on the call. "You can clearly see that the Edwards campaign takes Northern Nevada and the state as a whole very seriously in their effort for Senator Edwards to become president of the United States," Anderson said.

Smith, who grew up in Battle Mountain and works for a labor union, said Edwards had appeal both for the union members who are her constituents and for the outdoor issues, such as hunting and fishing, that are important to northern and rural Nevadans.

On another issue of crucial importance to rural Nevada, mining reform, Edwards has not yet taken a position, a spokesman said. A bill in Congress would charge mining companies an 8 percent royalty on gross proceeds from new mines on public land, which the companies currently do not pay to use.

"Senator Edwards ... is still reviewing this bill," spokesman Adam Bozzi said. "He believes there should be some sort of royalty, but 8 percent might be a little bit high."

Edwards has the backing of national environmental groups, who largely support mining reform. But rural Nevadans and the mining industry say the royalty could hurt the economy.

In Northern Nevada, Edwards has also been endorsed by Assemblyman David Bobzien of Reno. Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, is supporting Barack Obama, while Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, has said she's staying neutral.

Edwards rival Hillary Clinton's campaign said this week she too is opening an office in Elko, the mining-dependent town of 18,000 in the northeastern corner of the state. Edwards and Clinton follow Bill Richardson and Obama in setting up shop in a county that went Republican by a four-to-one margin in the last presidential election.

Because of the structure of the Jan. 19 presidential caucuses, rural residents' votes can carry greater weight, and Northern Nevadans tend to pay more attention to politics. But about three-quarters of Nevada's Democrats live in Clark County.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2919.