Ron Paul: Las Vegas Here I Come!

Romney also has the most serious organization in Nevada as heavyweight political figures Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and Rep. Joe Heck (R., Nev.) have co-chaired his campaign there.

Paul's organization doesn't seem as flashy -- state chair Carl Bunce finished third in 2008 for a Nevada Congressional seat -- but the state has a formidable Libertarian population.

"This is the only state in the nation that when you go to vote for state-wide or federal office you can vote 'none of the above,'" says Jim Denton, a Nevada Republican political strategist. "And none of the above traditionally gets three or four percent of the vote for a national election here. ... Nevada has a very libertarian bent to it."

Paul finished second in the 2008 Nevada caucuses with 6,087, or 14% of the vote as he surpassed eventual Republican nominee John McCain by slightly more than 400 votes. The obstacle Paul faces though is Romney, who won a 2008 landslide in the state with 22,659, or 51% of the vote.

While Romney and Gingrich scramble to gather the most votes for Florida's winner-take-all primary, Paul will be canvasing Nevada in hopes to pick off a few more delegates. Second place seems like a realistic bet, but what about first place?

"I don't think he has a chance to win, but he will certainly have an influence on the outcome just given the amount of support he has here," Uithoven says.

-- Written by Joe Deaux in New York.

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