North Dakota is suddenly a small hot spot on the campaign trail for Republican presidential candidates.
Ron Paul visited Williston, Dickinson,?Jamestown and Bismarck over a two-day period this week, on the heels of Rick Santorum's visits to Tioga and Fargo a few days earlier.
No doubt the skyrocketing growth in North Dakota's oil industry has put the state on the radar of more presidential candidates than in years past. As oil continues to flow from the rich Bakken formation and as the state continues its uptick in population, candidates can now use the state as an example of a booming economy amidst the gloom and doom facing other states.
We're feeling a little like Sally Field in her 1984 Oscar acceptance speech (You like us, you really like us!).
The state might not be a big player in the overall presidential race, but our status as an energy provider has certainly boosted our visibility.
Hopefully, other candidates have taken notice of the strong turnouts for the visits by?Santorum and Paul, and will put North Dakota on their schedules. Where are you, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney?