Paul Distant Second in Nevada Caucus, Moves on to Colorado, Minnesota

By the time Nevada Republicans caucused, Paul was campaigning in Minnesota

Now it's on to Colorado, Minnesota and Maine.

Rep. Ron Paul, who represents the 14th Congressional District of Texas, spent part of last week campaigning in Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.

Paul hopes to prevail in Colorado or at least prove he's still relevant.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney held a double-digit lead Sunday morning over his nearest pursuer as the totals mounted in Nevada, where fellow Mormons accounted for roughly a quarter of all caucus-goers. Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul vied for a distant second. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum trailed the field.

Apart from Romney, who won the Florida primary earlier in the week, Paul was the only contender to make a significant effort in Nevada, while Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum conceded defeat in advance.

On ABC's "This Week," Paul maintained the results show voters are still up for grabs.

"I get energized because I know there's a large number of people who are looking for another option," Paul said.

With votes from 87 percent of Nevada's precinct caucuses tallied, Romney had 48 percent, Gingrich 22 percent, Paul 19 percent and Santorum 11 percent.

State party officials estimated the outcome would probably show Newt Gingrich in second place, followed closely by Ron Paul, but for most of Sunday, they didn't have the hard votes to shore up their projections.

A total of 28 Republican National Convention delegates were at stake in caucuses held across the sprawling state. Romney won at least 10, Gingrich at least four, Paul at least three and Santorum at least two. Nine were still to be determined.

That gives Romney a total of 97, including endorsements from Republican National Committee members who will automatically attend the convention and can support any candidate they choose. Gingrich has 30, Santorum 16 and Paul seven. It will take 1,144 delegates to win the Republican nomination.

By the time Nevada Republicans caucused, Paul was campaigning in Minnesota.

"The one thing that is on our side is the American people are waking up," Paul said in a speech in Rochester, Minn., that was frequently interrupted by applause. The Texan has yet to win a primary or caucus state.

Associated Press writer Cristina Silva and David Espo contributed to this report.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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