Arizona and Michigan primaries now safely in the rearview mirror, Republican presidential hopefuls already are turning attention toward next week's mega-prize, the Super Tuesday bevy of more than 400 delegates, including those up for grabs in Alaska.
Ron Paul plans a trip up to Alaska this coming weekend, according to the "Alaska for Ron Paul" Facebook page, making him the only GOP candidate to plan a campaign stop in the 49th state. Paul enjoyed a groundswell of Alaska support in 2008, particularly among young voters, only to come in third behind Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner spoke with a Paul campaign manager, who said it's virtually "set in stone" that the Texas congressman will be on the ground in Alaska this weekend: "(Paul) is expected to make stops in Fairbanks and Anchorage on March 4, but locations and times have not been confirmed."
Mitt Romney has twice sent a surrogate, his son, up to Alaska to campaign. Rick Santorum, the latest candidate to give Romney a race for the nomination, has reportedly made campaign stumps on Alaska radio shows, the News-Miner reported.
Newt Gingrich doesn't appear to be planning a campaign stop in Alaska but he's not ceding the state or its delegates. The former U.S. Speaker of the House will be taking part in a tele-townhall Wednesday morning to talk domestic energy production.
According to the Consumer Energy Alliance, Gingrich will be the guest of honor in Wednesday morning's "Tele-Townhall on Energy & Natural Resource Development in Alaska." The campaign event will be open to anyone with a telephone and promote Gingrich's domestic energy policies, an email announcing the event said. Listen in or participate in the call by dialing (855)275-6398.
Gingrich hopes that Super Tuesday will hold "much more favorable territory" for his campaign. Gingrich has won support from two of Alaska's most outspoken politicians, former Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd. However, other popular politicians with actual jobs representing Alaskans -- notably, Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski -- came out early and forcefully for Romney, and hope to deliver the state for him next Tuesday.
Alaska offers 27 delegates, to be split proportionately based on the popular vote, to Republican candidates next Tuesday. The state's presidential preference poll is open only to registered Alaska Republicans. Here's a list of places where Republicans will be voting.