Amodei tells Carson caucus: Fight - but then unite

Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., told a packed house at Silver State High's Mallory Way building Saturday that there's nothing wrong with everybody in the room fighting to make their candidate the nominee.

"Fight as hard as you can, and that's all right," he said. "But get behind whoever that nominee is and work as hard as you can."

Amodei, who was elected to fill Sen. Dean Heller's House seat after Heller was appointed to the U.S. Senate, also told several hundred people who turned out for the GOP caucus that the race between Heller and Shelley Berkley for Republican John Ensign's seat is critical to control of the Senate.

"I'm not a drama guy, but it's phenomenally important," he said of the coming election cycle.

Amodei was followed by supporters of each candidate, starting with John Dennis, who said he backs Ron Paul for his steadfast adherence to his principals and his dedication to the U.S. Constitution. He said he doesn't believe that Paul's foreign policy would be isolationist: "He's for free trade."

He drew cheers from the crowd when he said Paul would end foreign aid. And more cheers when he said that after nearly 70 years, it's time to bring U.S. troops home from Japan and Germany.

Dennis said Paul understands that the biggest threat to the nation is from Washington, D.C., not abroad.

"Fundamental Islam didn't put $15 trillion in debt on our backs," he said. "Washington did."

Bud Southard urged the crowd to vote for Newt Gingrich, saying "he's got more experience in dealing with Washington than the others."

He said Gingrich has ideas and wants to talk about the issues, ways to fix the nation's problems, not scripted talking points.

Scott Scherer said Romney is the proven business manager and problem solver who has rescued numerous businesses as well as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah and brought Massachusetts out of debt.

"He was and is one of the best at turning around troubled enterprises, and, boy, does the federal government need to be turned around," he said to applause.

He said he supports Romney "because he gets things done."

Robert Potter said he backs Rick Santorum "because he believes in what I call the three F's: faith, family and freedom."

Heller, R-Nev., also attended the caucus. A few minutes after Heller went into the back of the school to meet with party officials, emcee Jay Baldwin called on him to address the crowd, saying, "They'd like to hear a few words from you."

There was no response, so Baldwin repeated the offer before a staffer informed him that Heller left the building.

"Looks like he was one of the vote-and-goes," said Baldwin, referring to the decision to open at 7 a.m. so that those who had to work could cast ballots and leave.