Paul downplays expectations for Nevada

PAHRUMP, Nev. -- Rep. Ron Paul on Friday told reporters that Nevada's caucus "isn't do or die" for his presidential campaign, but said he would appreciate getting a "tremendous boost" should he perform well.

Asked by National Journal/CBS News if he feels pressure to do well in Nevada because of how many chips he's placed on caucus states, the Texas Republican said he "wouldn't use the word pressure. But we feel determination and that it would be very helpful and that we're going to get a tremendous boost if we do very, very well here.

"But you know, exactly the numbers and percentages, and first and second, I don't feel like it's a do-or-die situation," Paul continued.

A poll out Thursday by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and 8 News Now shows Paul in last place with 9 percent, behind Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum respectively. The newspaper noted, however, that Paul is well-organized in the state and often outperforms polls by successfully rallying his devoted followers.

Paul said his biggest challenge here is that "Nevada has suffered a little bit more than the rest of the country... and that is a group of people that we have to talk to and win them over."

About 250 people came to support the Texas Republican on Friday in a particularly lively rally at Pahrump's Skate Zone. Another hundred or so trickled in later due to miscommunication over the time of the event.