![Courted by Candidates, Minnesota GOP Voters Study Up](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/10/Vote.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Courted by Candidates, Minnesota GOP Voters Study Up
ST. PAUL (AP) - Normally overlooked, Minnesota Republicans are reveling in a chance to sway a party presidential nominating contest.
Tuesday night's caucuses were on the radar of all the major contenders.
Party faithful prepared to register their preferences in a straw ballot that won't bind any of the 40 national convention delegates. But it offered plenty of symbolic importance. Coming off back-to-back wins, front-runner Mitt Romney hoped contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado would add more distance from a chase pack of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.
The foursome gave Minnesota voters personal attention with a host of visits in the last week. Signs were pointing to a closer margin than Romney's 2008 runaway win in Minnesota over eventual GOP nominee John McCain.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
More From AM 1240 WJON
![St. Ben’s, St. John’s Official Higher Ed Partners with MN United](http://townsquare.media/site/70/files/2019/11/soccer_ball_getty_Michael-Regan_Getty24.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gas Prices Fall in Minnesota, Rise Nationally](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/04/attachment-GettyImages-97962772.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![St. Cloud’s Coborn’s, CentraCare Make List of Biggest Minnesota Employers](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Jobs3-Thinkstock-GettyImages.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Central MN Meat Market Introduces 24/7 Meat Vending Machine](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Jen-and-Travis.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Becker Woman Hurt in Crash Near Spicer](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/06/State-Patrol-Stock-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Get Ready For Change: Minnesota Introduces Area Code 924 Overlay](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-NewAreaCode.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![MSP Ranked Top U.S. Airport in 2024](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-MAC_MSP-Airport_Terminal-1_Delta_6x4_200.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Riding High: Amtrak Borealis Trains Impress In First Month](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-AmtrakBorealis-AmtrakHandoutPhoto.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![90s Possible in Minnesota this Weekend](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2021/07/attachment-RS45164_GettyImages-1150050227-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)