Nevada GOP caucus moves to Feb. 4 after backlash

Nevada Republicans on Saturday moved the GOP presidential caucus to Feb. 4, giving up their No. 3 spot in the nation's early voting line-up to end a standoff with New Hampshire over the election calendar.

State party Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian noted Nevada would still hold the first caucus in the West. And she said the Silver State remains a major prize in the early going of the White House race, especially if leading GOP candidates split victories in the first four states.

"We could be the tipping point in the race," Tarkanian said. "Anything can happen in the first four states. And we're first in the West."

In this stage of the presidential contest, Mitt Romney is favored to win in New Hampshire and Nevada, while his Southern conservative rivals such as Herman Cain are proving more popular in Iowa and South Carolina while Florida could be up for grabs.

Former Gov. Bob List, a GOP national committeeman, said that as a swing state Nevada remains a key battleground in both the primary and caucus season as well as in the 2012 general election.

"I think Nevada is going to be very relevant in the presidential sweepstakes," List said. "And we are very much respected for stepping up and resolving this dispute with New Hampshire."

The vote to shift the caucus date back from Jan. 14 came during a meeting of the Nevada GOP Central Committee, which has several hundred members. Only a few people objected in a voice vote.

As a result of the move, the Nevada GOP will be fifth in the early voting line-up behind Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida.

New Hampshire officials were clearly happy with the Nevada GOP's move.

"It's a win for the process, and it's certainly a win for New Hampshire," said Phyllis Woods, an RNC member from the Granite State. "Going forward, we really want to have Nevada as an ally. We really don't want to have enemies as we go into the next primary calendar."

In arguing for the move, Tarkanian told the meeting at The Venetian that Nevada's voice would still be strong and the date dispute with New Hampshire had become a "huge debacle" and distraction.

"Our focus should be on defeating (Barack) Obama," she said, adding, "It's time to move forward. We will be the good guys in the end. We don't need to be New Hampshire's piñata."

The Republican National Committee had urged Nevada to move its date, and Tarkanian won support for the idea from Gov. Brian Sandoval and other GOP leaders in the state and nationwide as well.

Sandoval and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., also both endorsed Tarkanian for election to a full, two-year term as party chairwoman. She won Saturday, running unopposed after one potential challenger refused the nomination by Republicans upset with the recent party turmoil.

Tarkanian said she would focus on a voter registration drive and had raised $70,000 since she became party chairwoman in June.

Ahead of the meeting, party leaders had rejected the idea of same-day registration after rank-and-file members of the GOP Central Committee worried it could allow for fraud or havoc on caucus day.

The GOP meeting instead voted Saturday to put into the party platform opposition to same-day registration for both caucuses and elections. The Republicans also said they wanted to require voters to register at least 14 days before any vote.

The Nevada GOP will retain its full 28-delegate slate to the nominating convention by setting its caucus for Feb. 4. The date is two weeks earlier than the state's original Feb. 18 date that had been set before Florida jumped into January to upset the early voting calendar.

New Hampshire had threatened to hold its primary in December if Nevada Republicans didn't pick a new date so the Granite State could schedule its vote for Jan. 10, a Tuesday.

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner insisted a state law required at least seven days between contests and Nevada's vote was too close.

Several lower-tier candidates had threatened to boycott Nevada's GOP caucus if Republicans didn't cede to New Hampshire, as well as Hermain Cain, the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza who's leading in some polls.

Under the new calendar, the Iowa caucus is scheduled for Jan. 3. Iowa GOP chairman Matt Strawn confirmed Saturday that the Hawkeye State will keep its caucus date despite Nevada's move.

New Hampshire will likely be on Jan. 10, the South Carolina primary is set for Jan. 21 and the Florida primary is scheduled for Jan. 31.

Florida started the calendar scramble by moving its primary into January despite RNC rules that said states weren't allowed to vote before Feb. 1, 2012. The states that moved primaries to January will be penalized half their delegates to the nominating convention.

While Nevada Republicans will vote fifth in 2012, the state's Democrats have decided to maintain the original early voting schedule and No. 3 spot in the calendar behind Iowa and New Hampshire.

The Nevada Democratic Party on Saturday announced it will hold its presidential caucus on Jan. 21, two weeks before the Republicans. South Carolina Democrats said they would caucus on Jan. 28.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who pushed hard to get the early voting spot for Nevada in 2008, criticized the GOP for giving in on the date.

"I'm deeply disappointed that the Nevada Republican Party has caved to the will of the Republican National Committee and New Hampshire," Reid said in a statement. "By working with South Carolina, Nevada Democrats have not only preserved our position in the nomination process but will ensure the West plays a crucial role in selecting our nation's president in future contests."

If there was any question, the state Democratic Party made it clear they would be working to re-elect President Barack Obama.

"Next year, we are pleased to stand firmly behind President Barack Obama as he continues fighting to create good paying jobs, protect Medicare and Social Security and help families struggling to keep a roof over their heads," the statement said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact reporter Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow her on Twitter @lmyerslvrj.