BLOG: Heck says Gingrich should ‘withdraw gracefully’

8:51 p.m. HECK SAYS GINGRICH SHOULD 'WITHDRAW GRACEFULLY'

Rep. Joe Heck told reporters today that Romney's convincing showing in the Nevada caucuses should signal Newt Gingrich to the door.

"I hope he takes the message that it's time to withdraw gracefully and not continue to divide the party," Heck said, according to a report on CNN.com. Heck backed Mitt Romney in 2008 and signed on again early in this election cycle.

According to CNN, Heck was not as insistent that Ron Paul should withdraw.

-- Steve Tetreault

7:52 p.m. 'SUNDOWN CAUCUS' ERUPTS INTO CHAOS

The Nevada GOP's "sundown caucus" broke down into a shouting match before it even started Saturday night. Republicans who showed up expecting to participate after receiving automated telephone calls inviting them to the event were met with religious rules and organizers unprepared for the extra turnout.

Skirmishes between caucus-goers and security guards spread as an angry crowd shouted at organizers.

Ron Paul supporters were particularly peeved, with one man refusing to leave even as party officials tried to push him out the door.

"This is a fraudulent event," Evan Donoghue, 29, shouted at party officials who briefed the waiting crowd on the religious rules. "You are letting all these people know you are a religious bigot."

Several people said they received calls stating that if they missed an earlier caucus for any reason they could show up at the sundown event.

-- Benjamin Spillman

 

7:10 p.m. ROMNEY-SANDOVAL TICKET? NO WAY, SAYS GOVERNOR

As it became clear Saturday afternoon that Mitt Romney was running away with the Nevada caucus, NBC senior political analyst Chuck Todd suggested that he invite Gov. Brian Sandoval to be his running mate.

Todd said Hispanics typically support Democrats and Sandoval could attract the Hispanic vote.

On Saturday evening, Sandoval said that he has heard Romney mention his name, but quickly dismissed any notion of a Romney-Sandoval ticket.

"I am humbled to hear that," Sandoval said at The Venetian. "I have the best job in the United States. If he asked, I would respectfully decline. I intend to serve my full term."

-- Adrienne Packer

 

6:27 P.M. ROMNEY MAKES FIRST CAUCUS CAMPAIGN STOP IN COLORADO

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Confident that victory is at hand, more than a thousand Mitt Romney supporters crowded a Colorado Springs business Saturday to cheer the GOP front-runner on his first campaign stop of 2012 in Colorado.

Romney gave a short speech at a metal fabrication business before heading back to Nevada, where he appeared headed toward victory in that state's caucuses. Romney didn't mention Nevada or his three Republican rivals, instead delivering a stump speech focused on President Barack Obama and the economy.

"We simply can't allow a president to borrow and borrow and spend indiscriminately," Romney said to cheers from an overflow crowd. Some Republicans in the crowd waited two hours for a chance to squeeze inside.

Romney hadn't appeared in Colorado since a fundraising trip last September. But the former Massachusetts governor has reason not to spend too much campaign time here ahead of Tuesday's Colorado GOP caucuses. Romney carried the 2008 caucuses here with some 60 percent of the vote and is believed the clear favorite here next week.

Supporters in the crowd conceded that Romney's campaign may not be as organized as it was in early 2008.

"It all looks very good," predicted Brian Ferriter, a 50-year-old owner of an auto repair business. Wearing a "Colorado For Romney" T-shirt, Ferriter predicted an even wider victory margin for Romney on Tuesday. Ferriter said his main worry is that the GOP nominating contest will drag on past Super Tuesday.

"It's just hurting Republicans at this point," Ferriter said.

A few elected Republicans joined Romney Saturday to drive home the point. South Dakota Sen. John Thune introduced Romney, and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers was introduced as a Romney supporter.

Romney's Colorado campaign also announced additional Colorado endorsements Saturday. Among the supporters was former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum wasn't giving up on a strong showing in Colorado on Tuesday. Santorum has several Colorado stops planned Saturday, including one with U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner in Greeley.

Speaking to a crowd in a Montrose hotel, Santorum portrayed himself as an alternative to Romney.

"America is not looking for well-oiled weather vanes. They are looking for leaders," Santorum said.

-- The Associated Press

 

6:14 p.m. DEMOCRAT LEADERS SAY GOP'S 'MESSAGE IS WRONG FOR NEVADA'

Following the Washoe County caucuses, two top Democrat leaders said the Republican presidential candidates proved how out of touch they are with Nevada voters.

"We welcome the national spotlight on Nevada, but in the last few days we have had the opportunity to listen to the Republican presidential candidates and it is clear their message is wrong for Nevada," said Jill Derby, former state Democrat Party chairwoman.

Derby said the need for jobs and help for people facing foreclosures are the key issues for Nevadans, and all Romney has said is "'let it run its course.' "

In contrast, President Obama has launched programs to help people stay in their homes, she said..

Democrat state Treasurer Kate Marshall added the Republican presidential candidates did not spend much time in Nevada compared with 2008, when Democrat candidates visited more frequently.

Marshall added the candidates spent little money on TV ads in Nevada and essentially "discounted the intermountain West."

"We need jobs here, and Mitt Romney made his millions by gutting companies and laying off people," she said. "That message don't resonate here."

Derby said the Democrats have 7,000 volunteers waiting to take their message to voters this fall.

-- Ed Vogel

 

5:59 p.m.

GOP OFFICIAL GOES THE EXTRA 223 MILES IN NEVADA

RENO -- One northern Nevada Republican leader went much more than the extra mile to make sure every presidential caucus ballot counted.

She went 223 miles.

That was Washoe County GOP board member Vicky Maltman's round-trip Saturday from Reno to Gerlach to retrieve 23 votes cast at a rural high school.

A state game warden in a separate vehicle accompanied Maltman for the otherwise uneventful trip on a desolate two-lane blacktop into the Black Rock Desert.

The Sun Valley resident took some -- small "d" -- democratic pride delivering the results to GOP county headquarters about 1:30 p.m.

Maltman says she did one thing to avoid having to make a second trip.

She double-checked each ballot for verification, and had a Democratic party member in Gerlach initial the box.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

ROMNEY JUMPS OUT IN FRONT

5:47 p.m. According to official results released via the Nevada Republican Party's Twitter feed, with 4.6 percent of precincts reporting, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is leading with 36.8 percent of the vote. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, follows with 29.5 percent, Newt Gingrich has 20.2 percent, and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum trails with 13.3 percent.

5:09 p.m. Unofficial results from Nye County show U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, winning 454 votes, or 45.8 percent of the total. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney finished second with 291 votes, 29.3 percent, Newt Gingrich was third with 166 votes, 16.7 percent, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., had 80 votes, for 8 percent.

Paul was the only presidential candidate to visit Pahrump, he appeared in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 250 people Friday at a former, indoor, skating rink.

Some voters didn't cast their ballot for their first choice, but a second choice who they felt was more electable.

"We like Ron Paul. We like what he stands for. But I don't think he is electable against Obama," Mike Agers said.

"We voted for Gingrich. I'm not real comfortable with Romney, he's kind of almost another Obama," his wife Janisse Agers said.

Wendy Brown said, "I voted for Newt Gingrich, I would've liked to vote for Santorum but I think he's too far down in the polls to make it. I thought he was the best person for the job, I think he's got strong values and he stands for what he believes."

Jose Bautista said he hasn't voted for a long time, but he cast his vote for Paul.

"It seems to me he's the only vote right now. We need some help. We need to give America back to the people, that's all it is," Bautista said.

"I like Ron Paul because I think the others, they were running a smear campaign and they were making the Republican Party -- which we're trying to change -- they were making it into a joke. There were smear campaigns. I just don't feel they're qualified simply because they're not dealing with the issues. They're just worried about downing each other," Roxanne Cooper said.

"This election will be the fifth time that I voted for Ron Paul for president. The first two times I had to write him in," Darell Hott said. "Number one, he's a veteran. number two, he knows what duty, honor, country means and he believes in the Constitution and what more could you ask for, freedom."

"I voted for Ron Paul. I really believe in what he's saying. He's been consistent for the past 30 years. I started following him in 2007 for the last campaign because he was speaking like the real people and not flip-flopping and not saying the exact opposite thing in the same sentence," Joe Heath said. An endorsement from a former CIA agent who was head of the al-Qaida unit sealed his decision, Heath said.

Heath said Paul believes in defending U.S. borders, not Japan and Germany.

Artie Venchiarutti was too late to vote, after Nye County Republican Party officials closed the balloting at 11 a.m.

"I like Gingrich but I couldn't vote for him because I got here too late. I'm from Ohio. I don't know about this caucus. Back in Ohio they vote all day long. Things were all screwed up, I lost half an hour coming up here because of the streets. I came from the other end of town," Venchiarutti said.

Patricia Buffum said, "I like Ron Paul. I know he's not going to be elected. The media just hasn't served him very well. But whoever gets the nomination we all decided at least in our precinct, and I think they all have the same idea, we're going to pull together behind the nominee because we don't want the president to be reelected."

-- Mark Waite, Tonopah Times-Bonanza

CONSERVATIVES COME OUT IN FORCE

2:41 p.m. Conservatives accounted for around 4 in 5 voters as Nevada Republicans chose their presidential candidate on Saturday, polls of people entering the caucuses showed.

They tied Iowa as the most conservative group of GOP voters so far this year.

Around 3 in 4 Nevada voters also said they were tea party supporters, the highest proportion of the five states that have now held their GOP presidential contests.

One in 4 voters Saturday was Mormon, about the same as in the state's 2008 presidential contest.

Just over half said the economy was the dominant issue as they decided which candidate to support, while 1 in 3 cited federal budget deficits. In every state so far, the economy has been the voters' top issue.

Given a choice of four qualities they were seeking in a candidate, more than 4 in 10 said they wanted someone who could defeat President Barack Obama in this fall's elections. That has been the No. 1 characteristic cited in every state.

The survey was conducted for AP and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 25 randomly selected caucus sites in Nevada. The survey involved interviews with 1,553 caucus-goers and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTER REMOVED FROM CAUCUS, CALLED SPY

12:09 p.m. A Los Angeles Times reporter was removed from a Southern Nevada caucus location after some Republican voters accused her of being a spy.

Reporter Ashley Powers said she was thrown out of a community center in suburban Sun City Anthem after a Republican volunteer mistakenly told the crowd of voters that members of the media didn't have permission to observe balloting.

Powers said the crowd of elderly voters then booed her.

Powers said she left the room while they voted, and that when she tried to return, an older man grabbed her arm and pushed her.

Powers said a Clark County GOP official later called to apologize for the misunderstanding.

-- The Associated Press

NORTHERN NEVADA VOTING COULD POINT TO DECISIVE ROMNEY WIN

12:08 p.m. If partial results at two precincts in south Reno are any indication, Mitt Romney is headed to a decisive victory in today's Nevada Republican presidential caucuses.

Romney took 58 votes, compared with 23 for Newt Gingrich, 10 for Ron Paul and nine for Rick Santorum in precincts in exclusive neighborhoods in Reno that came close to being destroyed in a fire three weeks ago.

"We are going to come up with a Republican Senate, a Republican House and a Republican president in November," said Assemblyman Randy Kirner, R-Reno, after presiding over one orderly caucus.

He added he was not worried that the disputes between Romney and his challengers will lead to some Republicans passing up on voting in November.

"Look how Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were fighting at this time four years ago," he said. "That didn't make any difference in the election."

Many of Reno's precinct meetings were at Galena High School, where Vice President Joe Biden was speaking a few weeks ago when a wind-blown wildland fire forced him to flee. The fire burned up to the boundary of the school's football field.

In another precinct caucus at the high school, presiding officer Paul Jackson could not even find anyone in the crowd of Republicans to speak out on behalf of Paul.

"Come on, we'll be nice to you," Jackson said jokingly. "We are all neighbors here."

Jackson, often a GOP spokesman in Reno events, expressed his support for Gingrich.

"I think he is the smartest guy in the room," said Jackson, who failed to convince the decided pro-Romney crowd.

Jill Tolles, a spokeswoman for Washoe County Republicans, said she received no reports of any negative incidents or voting irregularities at any of the county's 459 precincts.

-- Ed Vogel

'THESE CAUCUSES ARE A NIGHTMARE'

11:50 a.m. Paul Petty is glad not many Republicans showed at Chaparral High School to participate in his party's presidential caucus.

"This was a cluster," said the school's caucus manager at 10:45 a.m. as the caucus wrapped up and precinct groups handed in their envelopes containing their votes.

About 1,000 participants showed and were dispersed into 40 rooms based on their precincts. However, Petty wasn't allowed to hand out ballots until every group was settled. That way, every group would be handed one ballot per person, no extras.

There's only one problem. Petty had only two people to cover the whole school and hand out ballots when the caucus started at 9 a.m.

Growing impatient, several precinct groups voted on their own, not using the official ballot. They put their pieces of paper in their precinct envelope and sealed it.

Now, Petty's worried their votes won't count in the caucus.

"These caucuses are a nightmare," he said.

-- Trevon Milliard

ROMNEY WINS IN A LANDSLIDE AT ONE CAUCUS SITE

11:04 a.m. At Becker Middle School in conservative Summerlin, Mitt Romney won the Republican presidential caucus site in a blowout against his opponents. A GOP insider said the total count from 16 precincts caucusing with 575 total voters here was 62 percent for Romney, 20 percent for Gingrich, 10 percent for Paul and 6 percent for Santorum.

The GOP insider and sources in the Romney campaign said they expected the strong Romney trend throughout Clark County, while Paul might do better than third on the state's rural counties, including Nye.

As precincts were starting to report unofficial results in Clark County late morning, Romney was pulling in about two-thirds of the total with Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul battling closely for second, a GOP insider said. Rick Santorum was far back in the pack in single digits.

-- Laura Myers

'OBAMA' GETS ALL WET

10:47 a.m. As the crowd began to leave the Republican presidential caucuses at Centennial High School, GOP Assembly candidate Michele Fiore gathered her campaign volunteers in the school parking lot.

"We just want to make this light and fun," she said.

Campaign volunteer Justin Loveall, who was grilling hot dogs, smiled. Fiore looked at him.

"It's warm enough," she said. "Let's do it. Put your Obama mask on. I'm so excited by this."

Loveall did just that, and he positioned himself under a water balloon that was part of a contraption similar to a dunk tank. You throw a ball at a target and it breaks the balloon over someone's head.

In this case, Loveall's head.

"Who's going to throw the ball?" Fiore asked.

"You are!" a small crowd answered.

She took three shots, but missed the target. So, she just whacked it with her hand. The water balloon burst atop Loveall's head.

Fiore cracked up.

"Obama!" she said, still laughing. "Thank you!"

-- Richard Lake

CAUCUS TURNOUT LIGHTER THAN EXPECTED AT CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

10:30 a.m. At Cimarron-Memorial High School, most of some 1,200 Republican Party members had cast their ballots in the presidential caucuses by 10 a.m.

Site manager Tom Thomas said the voting went smoothly. Caucus volunteers had to call party headquarters to verify the voter registrations of about a dozen people.

The turnout was lighter than expected, said Thomas, who earlier in the morning had predicted as many as 2,000 party members would show up.

In precinct 3385, one of 26 precincts at Cimarron-Memorial, Mitt Romney captured 18 of the 31 votes. Finishing second was Ron Paul with six votes, followed by Newt Gingrich with four votes and Rick Santorum with three votes.

-- Jeff German

WANTED: BALLOTS

10:18 a.m. When it came down to vote in today's Republican presidential caucuses, precinct 7683 at Green Valley High School had no ballots. The group was delayed about 10 minutes until a volunteer got them ballots.

Other ballot problems reported included precincts using unofficial ballots.

-- Kristi Jourdan

CAUCUS-GOERS REPORT SMOOTH SAILING AT CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL

10:13 a.m. Shortly after 10 a.m., caucus-goers started filing out of Centennial High School. They reported that things went smoothly with few problems.

Shawn Olson, 37, said the debating was minimal and that he was impressed. It was his first time participating in a caucus.

He said he supported Mitt Romney because of the former governor's business background.

"He's the guy the government needs in there right now to fix the economic situation we're in," Olson said. "He's the type of person I felt could make the changes that need to be made."

-- Richard Lake

ROMNEY TAKES PRECINCT NO. 7422

10:08 a.m. Precinct No. 7422 at Green Valley High School in Henderson voted heavily for Mitt Romney with 14 votes. Ron Paul came in second with seven, Newt Gingrich had five and Rick Santorum two.

There are 140 registered voters in the precinct, but only 28 showed up.

The group started late but finished just before 10 a.m. The precinct captain struggled to speak because she lost her voice.

Dan Heffley was elected a delegate. He'll pay $40 to head to the Clark County convention in March.

"I voted for Romney. He can beat (President Barack) Obama," the 49-year-old said.

-- Kristi Jourdan

MAKING THEIR CASE

10 a.m. As one precinct group at Centennial High School prepared to vote, delegates for each of the Republican presidential candidates made their case.

"I assume everyone is going to support the nominee, whoever it is," one man told the group. He then said he believed Mitt Romney would come out on top.

"I think he's going to be the nominee, and I think he's going to win."

A woman stood up next to pitch her candidate, Rick Santorum. She cautioned against believing "the media" that she said had pushed Romney.

When she was finished, a party official stood before the group.

"Can I just say one thing?" he said. He talked about debates and the Constitution, about genial political discourse.

"This is how it's supposed to be," he said.

-- Richard Lake

'ANYBODY-BUT-OBAMA' MENTALITY STRONG AMONG CAUCUS-GOERS

9:45 a.m. A room with two precincts grew louder with debate as caucus-goers chatted about their candidates at Green Valley High School in Henderson.

Some participants struggled to listen while others appeared to become distracted.

"Anybody running now will do better than what we have today," said one woman, who supported Romney.

That drew applause from her precinct.

A Gingrich supporter ran down Romney's campaign for spending millions of dollars "telling us why we shouldn't vote for Newt or Santorum."

"Unfortunately it has become really ugly," he said. "I'm disappointed as a Republican, I think this will hurt us in the fall."

The "Anybody-but-Obama" mentality was strong throughout caucus-goers, who agreed that they'll support whoever gets the nomination.

One caucus participant said he was weary of that mentality because the party needs the strongest candidate to beat Obama.

"There was the anybody-but-Reid mentality, and Sharron Angle couldn't win," the man said, referring to the 2010 U.S. Senate race between Democrat Harry Reid, who won, and Republican challenger Sharron Angle.

-- Kristi Jourdan

LET'S DO THIS

9:42 a.m. In the gymnasium at Centennial High School, caucus-goers were choosing delegates at 9:30 a.m.

Two small groups of people sat in plastic chairs, one group at each end of the basketball court. A party official at one end counted the voters in his group.

"Forty-eight? Any more? Did I miss anyone?"

No one responded.

"OK," he said. "I'll go get the ballots."

-- Richard Lake

GETTING A LITTLE WARM IN HERE

9:33 a.m. Caucus participants crammed into a tiny government classroom at Green Valley High School.

It was so hot, one woman fanned herself to cool down -- in stark contrast to the caucus-goers who shivered in line outside.

Surrounded by photos of U.S. presidents and front pages of newspapers, voters debated over who they wanted to become the nominee and take on Obama.

A Rick Santorum supporter stumped for his candidate's "moral values." The man discussed the "mudslinging" of the other candidates.

Another man, a business owner, said he supports Ron Paul because the congressman "sticks to his guns."

The Santorum supporter disputed Paul's views on foreign policy.

-- Kristi Jourdan

SANDOVAL SERVING AS 'REPUBLICAN CHEERLEADER' AT VOTING SITES

9 a.m. Gov. Brian Sandoval arrived at the Silver State Charter School in Carson City about 8 a.m. this morning.

"I'm excited to participate in the caucus," he said. "I have been at Republican events (across the state in recent weeks), and at every one it was standing-room only."

Sandoval said he was serving as a "Republican cheerleader" and intends to visit three voting sites in Reno before leaving for Las Vegas to give two afternoon speeches. He will vote at his home precinct, Swope Middle School, in Reno.

"I am voting for the next president of the United States," added Sandoval, who would not reveal his choice.

The first voters in Carson City were Rita and Brad Homer, both Gingrich supporters.

"Newt is very smart and he has wonderful ideas," Rita Homer said.

Aware Mitt Romney is far ahead in the polls, she said Nevada is a betting state and she bets on Gingrich.

"I think Romney is a liar," Brad Homer added.

Another early voter was Pat Wood, who said her goal was "to get that putz (President Barack Obama) out of the White House.

"Mitt Romney has been the governor of a state and he has turned a lot of businesses around," she added. "I voted for him last time and I will vote for him again."

Gingrich, she added, "is a grump."

­­-- Ed Vogel

MORMONS BAND TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ROMNEY

8:57 a.m. Lots of Mormon supporters of Mitt Romney streamed into the caucus site at Green Valley High School in Henderson, including many who supported him in 2008.

"The economy is in such a mess, I think he's managed other things so well that he'll be able to turn things around," said Sally Tielemans, who came to caucus with her son.

Tielemans said her shared Mormon religion with Romney helped her feel a greater comfort level with the former governor of Massachusetts.

"It does kind of give you a trust factor," she said. "He has always stayed active in the church. He's a good moral man and I don't think he would ever lie to you."

-- Laura Myers

CONFUSION REIGNS

8:53 a.m. Confusion set in as some caucus participants couldn't figure out which classrooms they were to go to at Green Valley High School in Henderson.

"It's discouraging," Wendy Paez said. "You want to be part of the process."

Dozens of people roamed the school halls desperate to find their precinct.

Paez, 53, said she is torn between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

"Newt is a loose cannon, but he's well spoken," she said. "On moral issues I support Mitt. I'll probably favor Mitt because he's a businessman, and they can probably dig up more dirt on Newt."

The candidate who can help fix Nevada's high unemployment and foreclosures and lessen the nation's $14 trillion debt will have her vote, added Paez, a Mormon.

"We can't spend more than we make, personally, and expect something different," she said. "I'm hoping we have a good turnout, and that people won't think because there are a lot of Mormons in Nevada that Romney automatically won."

-- Kristi Jourdan

ONE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE'S VOLUNTEER READY TO GET CRAZY

8:40 a.m. Assembly candidate Michele Fiore was taking advantage of having lots of Republican voters in one spot. Her campaign set up a booth in the parking lot at Centennial High School, one of the caucus sites.

They brought a barbecue grill, plenty of bottled water, and a dunk tank.

"I guess I'm going to put the Obama mask on," said Justin Loveall, a Fiore campaign volunteer. "I'm going to be Obama, and I'm going to get wet."

Noted here for the record is the fact that it was very cold at 8:30 a.m. when he said this, and a brisk wind was coming in from the west.

So, is Loveall crazy?

"Me?" he asked. "Crazy in a good way."

-- Richard Lake

CAUCUS CAPITALIST KNOWS HIS AUDIENCE

8:24 a.m. The Centennial High School caucus site was busy just after 8 a.m. Close to 100 cars crowded into the parking lot, and there was a steady stream of Republicans getting ready to caucus.

A party official directed people to where they were supposed to go, and a smart capitalist was taking advantage of the crowd.

"We're staunch Republicans," said Chris Steele, who was selling Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich T-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers outside. "We don't do Democrat stuff."

-- Richard Lake

SUPPORTING THEIR MAN

8:18 a.m. Dozens of Republicans waited in the cold early morning Saturday to participate in the GOP caucuses at Green Valley High School in Henderson.

David Odland, 65, was among them, clutching a hot cup of coffee and clad in an orange Hawaiian shirt.

The Ron Paul supporter wants to be a delegate at the upcoming Clark County convention.

"The national media has painted him as an outsider who doesn't fit in," Odland said. But he also said he's realistic that Mitt Romney will probably win the nomination.

"I'll vote in favor of the party," Odland said.

Two Newt Gingrich supporters sat waiting in a classroom discussing why they want to him become the next president. One woman was an independent but registered as a Republican just to vote in the caucuses.

"I was a Romney supporter until I saw his ads attacking Gingrich," she said.

-- Kristi Jourdan

NEVADA REPUBLICANS LINE UP EARLY, BRAVE COLD TO CAUCUS

7 a.m. In Carson City, about 40 people lined up in 14-degree temperature for a chance to be the first to vote in the caucus.

Unlike in other counties, Carson City offered a "vote and go" procedure to allow people to cast their votes early in case they had to work or had other engagements today.

Carson City GOP Chairman Jay Baldwin expects half of Carson City's 10,000 Republicans will cast votes before voting ends at 3 p.m.

-- Ed Vogel

FROM TWITTER

@TrevonMillard (Review-Journal reporter) When a high school student volunteering at caucus was asked who he'd vote for, he replied "I don't want to say the O word and get jumped."

@KMCannonPhoto (Review-Journal photographer) Helper at the G.V.H.S. @nvGOP #caucus asks me, "Are you here for the Mitt Romney thing?"