NEWSWEEK's Tammy Haddad files this report from Las Vegas:

The Clinton press charter was late for the MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate because of another thing a campaign can’t control--headwinds. Senator Clinton arrived only two minutes before show time. But Jay Carson, Senator Clinton’s press secretary and Jamie Smith, who manages the traveling press operation, were still working the aisles packed with the 50 or reporters who were preparing to dash into the bus for the big event.

NEWSWEEK asked Carson about prepping for the debates, the differences between working as the spokesperson for President Clinton and Senator Clinton, how he has never seen Senator Clinton nervous and if the campaign has approached the Edwards campaign about pulling out. Excerpts after the jump:

NEWSWEEK: How many debates and candidate forums has Senator Clinton participated in this election cycle?
Jay Carson: In the upper teens, I think.

How do you prep for a debate?
Some hosts come in ready to surprise. You have to try to be ready for that. She does fairly well in the debate format because she has a deep level of knowledge and experience. When nuclear proliferation comes up or benefits for veterans and prescription drug policies she knows those through experience, not because she read about them in a briefing book or got answers from a foreign policy adviser. She has an ease and comfort in a debate.

Does she get nervous before a debate?
She doesn’t get nervous before debates.

When does she?
I have never seen her nervous. She knows going into the debates that she is most likely not going to be stumped by the moderator or opponents.

How much time do you spend gaming out the hosts?
Not a ton.

Have you approached the Edwards campaign about stepping aside?
No.

The battle for women voters?
Hers is a historic campaign, appreciative of all the support women give her. She wants to win every demographic. She has made it abundantly clear that she is not running as a woman; she happens to be a woman.

You have had a long career traveling with President Clinton and the senator.
It’s an honor to work for both. They are very different people, but both have incredible attributes and are by far the two smartest and most capable people that I have ever worked for.

Who is more punctual?
She is on time. He is much more punctual than people give him credit for. Many people have missed many a motorcade by counting on President Clinton being late.

What are their favorite drinks?
His is Diet Coke, and she drinks a lot of tea. They both drink a lot of water.

Who loves campaigning more?
They both love it and they love to talk to people and that is the most direct way to do it. Spending time with actual voters is their favorite part of the campaign. They will spend hours on a rope line talking to actual voters.