ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Normally overlooked, Minnesota Republicans are reveling in a chance to sway a party presidential nominating contest.
    
Tuesday night's caucuses were on the radar of all the major contenders.
    
Party faithful prepared to register their preferences in a straw ballot that won't bind any of the 40 national convention delegates.

But it offered plenty of symbolic importance. Coming off back-to-back wins, front-runner Mitt Romney hoped contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado would add more distance from a chase pack of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.
    
The foursome gave Minnesota voters personal attention with a host of visits in the last week. Signs were pointing to a closer margin than Romney's 2008 runaway win in Minnesota over eventual
GOP nominee John McCain.