Paul leads Grant County Republican preference

Chair reports record caucus turnout

GRANT COUNTY -Grant County Republican Party chairman Tom Dent was surprised every week of this presidential race.

"Since four or five months ago, when everything kind of got rolling pretty good and what we had then and what we have now, and it keeps changing," he said. "I'm not sure if we're done. We'll just have to see where it goes."

According to Dent, Ron Paul received 31 percent of the Grant County vote, John McCain received 27 percent, Mitt Romney received 25 percent, Mike Huckabee received 16 percent and about 1 percent was uncommitted.

Dent said the caucus serves two purposes.

"For one, we discuss issues and go over issue papers to develop our county platform," he said. "The second thing is we elect alternates and delegates to the county convention, which will be March 29."

Dent estimated the party has 332 slots for delegates at the county convention, although he won't see final results for another week.

The Republican party has 65 precincts and 19 different caucuses were held Saturday, Dent said.

"Some of the larger precincts will hold their own caucuses, the smaller precincts will pool together and sometimes it's easier for the people involved," he said. "It takes a lot of people."

Dent said turnout at the Republican caucuses was great.

"This is the absolute best turnout I've ever seen since I've been the chairman or since I've been involved in caucuses," he said. "There's just an extraordinary amount of interest in politics right now. I think the citizens of this country don't like where it's headed and they want to fix it. They want to be involved."

Dent also attributed the high turnout to Grant County and state Republicans "energized" to elect Dino Rossi as the state's governor.

"That has pulled us together and we're going to win this next election," he said. "The other thing is, we're pretty dang sure we don't want Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama to be president, so we're working real hard to make sure one of our four people make it."

The Republican Party is a grassroots party, Dent said, and works hard to make sure people are involved.

"You and I can make a difference if we just step up to the plate," he said. "The old saying rings true that he who shows up runs the world. As a local party, we are very involved in statewide activities and people listen to us. Grant County does have some clout at the state level because we have done well, but you can make a difference."

The party holds its annual Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night at the Moses Lake Golf and Country Club.