What you need to keep in mind for Nevada's Republican caucuses

Will Trump stay on top or will Cruz and Rubio make a run for the gold?

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio rally in Nevada in hopes of standing victorious following the state's Republican caucuses. It is expected to be a brutal battle - so what should you keep your eye on?

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Trump currently dominates the Republican party votes, but Cruz and Rubio refuse to admit defeat.

According to CNN, Republican voters admitted they have their eyes on Trump and have given the other candidates little thought.

Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston explained how Cruz and Rubio "are very frustrated by what everyone's frustrated by: you can't talk any sense into the Trump voters, they can't turn them. When you're hoping that those voters don't turn out, you know that your campaign is playing for second place."

With both candidates looking to take down Trump, it is important to keep an eye on the following things:

Whether Rubio can actually win

Thus far Rubio hasn't done so well in caucuses or polls. 

Though he lived in Las Vegas for a brief period of time when he was a child - in a time when his family turned to Mormonism - he left the Mormon Church to join his wife's evangelical Christian views and has publicly criticized gambling.

With Nevada's high Mormon population, it is difficult to see how Rubio can emerge on top, but he has certainly been trying.

Will more people turn up to vote?

In 2012, only 33,000 of Nevada's 400,000 Republican voters appeared for the caucus. Should voters repeat their refusal to show, Cruz and Rubio may be in trouble.

Trump dominated Nevada polls - most of which were sadly unreliable - but has visited the state on several occasions and left many people claiming he has their vote.

When the confusion settles, what will emerge?

Republicans will not receive the same benefits their Democratic counterparts did during their caucuses. 

When it is their turn to cast ballots on Tuesday, Republicans will be forced to appear at varying times. The Democrats were allowed same-night registration for their party, but on Tuesday night, Republicans will not.

After the stampede of voters work their way throught the lines and return home exhausted, how long will it take to count the votes? In 2012, it took two full days - and recall that they did so with only a 7 percent turnout.

Will Trump be toppled?
Everyone is interested in whether Trump will continue his reign. Keeping an eye on the firecracker businessman is a must for both Republicans and Democrats.

What will Nevada's caucuses hold? Who has more sway?

Only the combination of voter turnout and timely results can say.

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