Nation's least populated state gets rare chance to play a larger role in presidential election

Wyoming, the nation's least populated state, could finally have a larger say in a presidential election, Laura Hancock reports for the Casper Star-Tribune. "As one of the country’s reddest states, Wyoming rarely plays a major role in the presidential election. But this is no ordinary year, with competitive Republican and Democratic presidential races." (Star-Tribune photo by Ryan Dorgan: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz speaking in Wyoming)

The Democratic caucus will be held Saturday. The Republican caucus was held March 1—Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won nine delegates, to one for Donald Trump—but the state could still have a big say at the Republican convention, if no Republican candidate earns the nomination through delegates, Hancock writes. The Wyoming GOP is sending 29 delegates to the national convention. The Wyoming Democratic party is sending 18 delegates, four of whom are superdelegates committed to Hillary Clinton, to the national convention.

Wyoming has been busy welcoming or preparing to welcome candidates or their supporters, Hancock writes. "Former President Bill Clinton campaigned Monday in Cheyenne for his wife. Her chief Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, spoke Tuesday night at a rally in Laramie. Sanders’ wife, Jane, hosted town hall meetings to talk about her husband on Monday and Tuesday. The state’s Republicans will have an opportunity to see Cruz and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who is stumping for Trump, on April 16 at the Wyoming Republican State Convention. It will be Cruz’s second visit to the Cowboy State." (Read more)