CBS News/ January 31, 2012, 11:09 PM

Ron Paul sets sights on Nevada caucuses

Hours after the polls closed in Florida on Tuesday night, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul was setting his sights on Nevada's upcoming caucuses, telling an enthusiastic crowd of supporters in Nevada that "we've only gotten started" despite his fourth-place finish in the Sunshine State.

The candidate, who essentially sat out the Florida primary (except to participate in two debates held there last week), congratulated Mitt Romney for his Florida victory, and told him he'd "see him soon in the caucus states."

Instead of following the primary calendar, Paul is invoking his own strategy, campaigning in states where he has the best opportunities to pick up delegates -- generally in states with proportional representation and caucuses -- and selectively investing his resources. Paul tends to do well in caucuses because turnout is often relatively low in those contests, and the staunch Libertarian has a particularly fervent base of supporters.

"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," Paul said.

The Republican presidential contender also predicted he will do well in the caucus states because "you have an energized people... and actually believe in something," presumably a dig at his fellow Republican opponents Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

"Tonight I saw a statistic we're in third place. When it comes to delegates that's what really counts, and we've only gotten started," Paul said.

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We had "fantastic reception up in Maine," Paul said.

"Today we had three visits in Colorado," the Republican congressman told a crowd of cheering supporters, "and we had attendance well over 5,000."

Paul spoke to an enthusiastic crowd, which chanted "Ron Paul" and "end the fed" (referring to the Federal Reserve) at various points through out his speech. He spoke about the government being too large and personal freedom being too limited.

"The problem is too much government; we need more personal liberty," Paul said.

Nevada holds its caucuses Saturday. Paul placed a close second there in 2008 behind Romney.

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Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.

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notreich says:: Paul wants to end Social Security and Medicare. Paul has a certain small percentage of young people who buy that they will be better off not paying that tax and will have SO much money when they are old. They don't realize that if they work for wages they would still be paid the same amount, because that is (obviously) what they will work for. They are also too young to realize that we've been hearing the same thing (Social Security is failing, not going to be there etc.) for many many decades. It will only go away if we put politicians in there who actually want to kill Social Security. They don't realize that SS is about the greatest asset they are born with, but they would be willing to be snookered out of it and become the only western industrialized country without it.; reply

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notreich says:: Paul talks of turning national parks and federal lands over to state control, but what he really means is turning it over to just a few people in those states and private ownership. More for the tiny elite.; reply

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Buster000 says:: Is it just me or am I the only one who want's to do that tart behind him on his left; reply