CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is starting to build a formal campaign team in Nevada.

Political consultant Jim Farrell said he started working last week as Sanders’ Nevada state director. The hire marks one of the campaign’s first steps toward building a formal organization focused on winning the Nevada caucuses.

Sanders has attracted large crowds to his speeches in Nevada, but he’s months behind rival Hillary Clinton in hiring staff in the state.

Farrell said the campaign is holding a meeting Saturday in Henderson to organize Sanders supporters before Tuesday’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas.

He said the campaign also plans to open physical offices throughout the state.

Farrell is a former adviser to ex-New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and has experience with campaigns in the caucus state of Iowa.

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