(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY CODY LAGROW & CHRISTINA HARTMAN

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Ron Paul is out to conquer the wild, wild west after coming in fourth with 7 percent of the vote in Florida’s primary. ABC has the next step.

“Both contenders have been campaigning in Colorado, which hold its caucuses a week from today. And both are hosting campaign events in Nevada tonight.”

Paul is looking to take the gold in the silver state this year. The Texas congressman took second behind Mitt Romney in Nevada in 2008. But The LA Times quotes University of Nevada political science professor Eric Herzik who says this time, Paul has a chance to pull a “W.”

“Let’s face it, we’re built on gambling. The bars never close. We have legalized prostitution. We’re not a big government state. Ron Paul has a kind of built-in base here.”

Paul didn’t really compete in Florida, aiming for caucus states that rely more heavily on an enthusiastic and committed following. Compared to primaries -- caucuses are typically a longer time commitment, and therefore have historically lower, but more energetic, turnouts. 

Paul touched on the importance of caucuses to his campaign in a speech after his Florida loss Tuesday night.

PAUL: “We will spend our time in the caucus states because if you have an irate, tireless minority, you do very well in the caucus states.”

And since Florida was a winner-take-all state -- it’s no surprise Paul didn’t invest much of his resources there. With the caucus states, Paul’s got a better shot at the delegate-collection game. And US News and World Report says -- that’s one advantage he has over Romney.

“The number of ‘Paulists’ may not be as large as the armies supporting the front-runner Mitt Romney, but Paul’s backers are passionate, and that means a lot in caucus states, where organization is vital.”

Then again, the article also notes: “Paul's problem is that Romney also has a strong base of Mormons and other conservatives in Nevada.”