Erin BreenChannel 2 News
As the dust settles after the Iowa caucuses, Nevada's Republicans are gearing up for the contest here just one month away. They say we may be the fifth state to vote but we will be the first in the West and that gives us national clout.
"There is a study out," says Truckee Meadows Community College Political Science Professor Fred Lokken, "that shows that those in the front-loaded early caucus and primary states actually have 5 times the influence of those who vote on Super Tuesday in March."
And that's because the early voters help narrow the field.
"Think about it," says Lokken "once voters in the rest of the country's regions have voted, that's when Nevada gets its chance. So whatever candidates are left we get a say in creating momentum for and we do have a say in who gets the nomination that way."
Local Republican officials say they weren't too surprised that Romney and Paul came out so well in Iowa or that Santorum surged. But they say some Nevadans are still looking for an anti-Romney candidate.
"Nevada is much more Romney and Paul country," says David Buell, Washoe County Republican Party Chairman. "But there is a bit of a movement here for Republicans to focus on one candidate for the state and that will make it a very interesting caucus indeed."
Nevada's caucus is set for February 4th.
