Hawaii GOP Hopes Local Caucus Will Grow Party

By Chad Blair 01/03/2012

Tuesday's Iowa caucus will likely narrow the Republican presidential field.

But it's also possible that a clear winner won't be determined too quickly, leaving it to other states to help crown the eventual nominee who will face President Barack Obama in November.

For the first time, Hawaii Republicans will have the opportunity to weigh in on the national contest rather than just wait until November. At the party convention in Kauai in May, delegates voted to hold a presidential caucus on March 13.

It's unlikely that the Hawaii GOP caucus will much influence the race. Hawaii's GOP will send a mere 20 delegates to the national convention in Tampa, Fla., in late August. And Hawaii only has four electoral votes.

But, party members believe the caucus is a rare chance to grow membership for a party that has been a minority in Hawaii since statehood.

With the national media watching — Alabama and Mississippi have primaries the same day — it could be news in Obama's home state that local Republicans voted for Mitt Romney, Ron Paul or whoever is still in the running come March.