The early caucus is living up to its billing

The state's voters are finding out that the new caucus being unveiled Saturday isn't perfect. There's no such thing as voting absentee, so if you've got other plans Saturday, you won't be able to participate. And it will be the only opportunity outside the general election for voters to have a say in the presidential election.

But so dramatically positive have been the results of the early caucus that it's already clear the parties deserve a hearty round of applause. And that would have to extend to Sen. Harry Reid, who used his influence to bring the early Democratic caucus to Nevada, a move that the GOP quickly followed.

They told us that the caucus would put us on the political map, that it would put the candidates within range of our questions. And boy were they right. Except for the Republican front-runners, there's been a steady parade of candidates through Northern Nevada. Thousands of voters have turned out to see them and to draw first-hand conclusions.

And we hope that thousands more will show up Saturday for the caucuses. The results will be national news and potentially have the ability to influence the ultimate success or failure of the candidates. That's not bad when you consider how little influence the state has held in previous presidential elections.

The caucus has energized Nevada and we hope its effects will resonate for a long time, not only in determining who will be our next president, but in reaffirming that voters and future voters can still make a difference.

• This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board.