Colo. Republicans Look Ahead To Feb. 7

Colorado’s caucus date has been set for Feb. 7. That could mean Colorado voters get the deciding voice in the Republican presidential nomination this year.

According to Bob Loevy, a retired Colorado College political science professor, the race is heating up. Loevy has written several books on the nomination process.

He said Iowa typically has a decisive winner, but this year Mitt Romney beat Rick Santorum by only 8 votes.

Loevy also said that Iowa is known for highlighting candidates who “come out of nowhere”.

This year, Loevy said Santorum was that candidate. Other examples are Jimmy Carter who won the Democratic caucuses in Iowa in 1976 and Huckabee who won the Republican caucuses in 2008.

Another Republican candidate who is still considered a front-runner is Ron Paul who Loevy calls a “cause candidate”.

Loevy said Paul is carrying voters with his message and the ideals he stands for, rather than the actually goal of becoming President.

According to Loevy, Paul and Santorum are splitting the conservative Republican vote. Romney is considered a moderate conservative.

He said if Paul or Santorum drops out of the race, voters would rally behind one of them and that would lead to a 2-person race against Romney.

Loevy noted that things are still up in the air and Colorado has a precedent of deciding a nomination. In 1992, Colorado Democrats voted for Jerry Brown rather than Paul Tsongas and that gave Bill Clinton the Democratic nomination.

He said this will certainly be an interesting nomination process for Coloradans to keep an eye on.

El Paso County Republicans said they plan to hold a big event on the night of the New Hampshire primary, Jan. 10.

For the latest from Colorado’s Republican Committee, click here.