Some big (literally) news out of Nevada: pre-registrations for tonight's caucus are already besting the overall turnout for the state in 2012. In 2012, just under 33,000 people caucused in Nevada's first-in-the-west elections, a number that is dwarfed by the reported 37,000 people who have pre-registered for tonight.
BREAKING: Huge news for NV caucus. GOP official confirms that 37,000 have pre-registered. That's bigger than overall turnout in 2012!
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 23, 2016
According to at least one GOP insider, this means that turnout could top 75,000.
Overall turnout could now be as high as 75K, one GOP insider believes. That's the good news. Bad news: Even longer to count?
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 23, 2016
What does this mean? For starters, this could be good news for the Donald Trump campaign--his unique appeal and the excitement surrounding his campaign has drawn lots of people out of the woodwork and into the political process. While some wondered if Trump's comfortable lead could be eroded by Nevada's "closed" caucus that only admits registered Republicans (unlike an open primary or caucus), these numbers likely mean that it's going to hold.
Nevada's caucuses open between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 local (pacific) time, and close at 9:00 p.m.