Can Clinton Save Las Vegas?

by Bodog Casino | Aug 10 2009

We don't know if you've heard but Las Vegas, Nevada ain't filling casinos like it used to.

The tourism industry has nosedived in Vegas in 2009, causing governor Jim Gibbons to cry out to President Barack Obama and Washington for some help. Not just financially, but with Vegas' image as well.

"I think a face-to-face meeting between the president, myself, and Nevada business leaders would do a lot to help overcome the perception that President Obama finds visiting Las Vegas somehow offensive," Gibbons said. "If President Obama can come to Las Vegas to ask for political campaign cash, he can certainly take some time to explore helping the people who live and work here, we are all Americans."

His pleas were generally ignored, causing him to outright blame the Obama administration for the state's troubles.

"I am working hard to get more jobs and more tourists for Nevada to help our economy recover and the Obama administration seems to be completely unaware of the damage they are causing to Nevada's economy and the people here," Gibbons said. "The policies of the Obama administration have sentenced Nevada's economy to the gallows."

Well, it looks like his cries for help have been answered (somewhat). Although it won't be Obama making the trip, the state will be graced by someone who is probably more popular than the commander-in-chief right now: former President Bill Clinton.

Excuse us for using a phrase you usually hear on "Access Hollywood" but Clinton is so hot right now. A week ago he gained national acclaim when he was able to negotiate the release of two U.S. journalists who were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea.

Clinton, known for his limitless charisma, was able to charm the lady shades off of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and get him to pardon the U.S. prisoners.

Can Clinton save Vegas just like he saved the journalists? We think so.

Although he's there for a summit on jobs, economics and energy independence many believe his arrival and endorsement of the state will instantly put more butts at the Blackjack tables and slot machines.

With all the problems the U.S. economy is going through right now people seemed to have blocked out Vegas as a vacation spot. All it'll take is a couple of news reports about Clinton in the city to perk interest again.

And yes, we realize how coincidental it is that the President, who is notorious for committing plenty of sins in the oval office, could be the savior of Sin City.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore are in Las Vegas today as speakers and participants of the Energy Summit. Who knows, maybe they'll make time for a few hands of blackjack?