Elko County, Nevada

Either today or tomorrow, I am going to be listing counties by state that you should consider following on election night because their results will say a good about whether Barack Obama will score a national landslide, or barely squeak in.

Elko County is one such county. Situated in the northeast corner of Nevada, it is hugely rural and perhaps even more Republican. It is small (population-wise) compared to Clark and Washoe counties, but as the fourth largest county in the state, it generally has a big say in who wins Nevada's five electoral votes as well as its statewide office. Because it is so Republican (with registration around 2-to-1 in favor of the GOP), it generally helps provide the cushion for many Republicans candidates who get crushed in Vegas. Indeed, in 2004, John Kerry got only 20 percent here. That is why it has been so surprising that Obama has made three trips out there during this cycle. Obama realizes he won't win here, but if he works hard on an area national Democrats always lose, he might improve his standing here. And it looks like that strategy might work:

Want proof? Sarah Palin is stopping here Monday night for her final event before election day. In Elko, Nevada.