Romney A Favorite In Nevada

Politico reports:

Republican front-runner Mitt Romney doesn’t thrill grassroots activists. The party establishment isn’t wild about him either. In Iowa, the enthusiasm deficit is so severe he’s not even competing in the Ames straw poll.

But there’s one early presidential state where Romney never has to wonder where he stands, a place where he can get the rapturous reception of a true favorite: Nevada.

Republicans in the Silver State, who favored Romney in 2008 by nearly 40 percentage points, are still broadly loyal to the former Massachusetts governor, giving him an enthusiastic welcome whenever he comes to town, which is often. His organization from 2008 remains almost totally in place — unlike in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

His popularity in Nevada all but guarantees him an early-state victory on the heels of the New Hampshire primary, where he currently leads in the polls.