[mrsmith]

I never remember the Nevada caucus being a big ‘news’ deal before.

Here is the Nevada Republican primary system explained:
http://frontloading.blogspot.com/2015/12/2016-republican-delegate-allocation_24.html

[grey_whiskers]

I never remember the Nevada caucus being a big ‘news’ deal before.

It's a sanity check / bellwether indicator for Trump. If he wins big here, it shows he

a) does respectably in the more staid, rural midwest (Iowa)

b) outperforms in New England (New Hampshire, big surprise) c) doesn't repel strong evangelicals in the Bible Belt (South Carolina) d) plays well in the West

which leaves basically California, Vermont, and Minnesota as Dem Shoo-ins, and maybe Maryland. Even New York and New Jersey will be in play.