Ron Paul shifts focus to caucus states

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul might've been out of state Tuesday night but he wasn't out of mind.

His supporters gathered to watch election results at Temple Terrace's Copper Top Pub, where Paul made an impromptu appearance after the first Florida debate held at USF.

After coming in last, Paul spoke from Nevada, where he's spending time campaigning prior to Saturday's caucuses.

"We’re down to four (candidates) but tonight I saw a statistic that said we’re in third place when it comes to delegates and that’s what really counts and we’ve only gotten started," he said.

Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Mitt Romney have been hitting the campaign trail throughout Florida.

Paul did not schedule any events in the Sunshine State aside from appearing at the two Florida debates.

He instead shifted his focus to Maine, where the caucuses are scheduled to begin on Saturday, the same day Nevada will be holding its caucuses.

Libertarian Alexander Snitker says that strategy might work.

"It’s a tough call because in order to win in this market you have to be able to utilize about $9 to $10 million in the commercial game in order to get it done. That would have been very difficult for the campaign," he said. "And once again, if your goal is to get delegates and with the rules that were changed here from the (Republican Party of Florida) breaking their own rules, going to the other states, to Maine, Colorado, is going to be a much better effective strategy to win overall."