[KARAH RUCKER]

ALL ATTENTION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES IS ON SOUTH CAROLINA.

BUT THEY’RE NOT THE NEXT STATE ON THE PRIMARY CALENDAR.

NEVADA IS.

THE STATE IS BEING OVERLOOKED FOR A FEW REASONS.

ONE – THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS A SHOO-IN FOR DONALD TRUMP –

EXPECTED TO EARN ALL 26 DELEGATES UP FOR GRABS.

TWO – THE PROCESS – IS A TAD COMPLICATED.

THERE WILL BE A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HELD AND A CAUCUS.

GOP VOTERS IN THE STATE CAN PARTICIPATE IN BOTH IF THEY’D LIKE.

BUT – ONLY RESULTS FROM THE CAUCUS WILL COUNT.

REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS HAD TO CHOOSE WHICH CONTEST THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN.

EITHER THE PRIMARY. OR THE CAUCUS.

NIKKI HALEY CHOSE THE PRIMARY.

TRUMP WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CAUCUS.

SO THE TWO REMAINING GOP CANDIDATES WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE SAME BALLOT NEVADA BALLOT.

AND THE PRIMARY – IS BASICALLY A THROW AWAY –

GIVEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY’S RULES ON ELECTING THEIR PARTY’S CANDIDATE THROUGH THE CAUCUS.

WHY IS NEVADA’S PROCESS SO CONVOLUTED?

IN 2021 – THE STATE PASSED A LAW REPLACING THE CAUCUS SYSTEM THE STATE HAD LONG USED WITH  A PRIMARY AFTER 2020’S MULTIPLE PROBLEMS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES.

BUT –

THE GOP DIDN’T LIKE THAT.

EVERY REGISTERED VOTER RECEIVES A BALLOT IN THE MAIL –

AND OUT OF CONCERNS OF FRAUD BY MAIL-IN-VOTING –

THE PARTY DECIDED THEY’LL STILL HOLD THE MANDATORY PRIMARY –

BUT THEY’RE STICKING WITH THE TRADITIONAL CAUCUS AND SAID

THOSE VOTES WILL BE THE ONLY ONES THAT COUNT.

NIKKI HALEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO FIGHT TRUMP FOR DELEGATES BY APPEARING ON THE CAUCUS BALLOT.

EVEN IF HALEY WINS THE PRIMARY – IT WON’T COUNT FOR ANYTHING.

WHICH IS LIKELY WHY SHE’S IGNORED THE STATE AND HAS MARCHED ON TO HER HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

SINCE NEVADA ISN’T EXPECTED TO HOLD A COMPETITIVE GOP PRIMARY RACE –

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY ON FEBRUARY 24.

HOWEVER – TRUMP HELD RALLIES OVER THE WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS –

NOTING NIKKI HALEY’S ABSENCE.

NEVADA’S PRIMARY WILL BE HELD NEXT TUESDAY.

THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL ALSO BE FEBRUARY SIXTH –

AND IS ALSO EXPECTED TO NOT BE COMPETITIVE.

THE NEVADA CAUCUS – WILL BE A FEW DAYS AFTER – ON FEBRUARY 8.