COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County GOP leaders have conflicting opinions over a recent change in how Idaho Republicans pick their presidential nominee.

The Idaho Republican State Central Committee voted this weekend to tweak state party rules, so Idaho Republicans will no longer pick their presidential candidate through a May primary vote.

Instead, the selection will occur through county caucuses on Super Tuesday, in March.

The earlier nomination will finally make Idaho relevant in presidential politics, said Tina Jacobson, chair of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

"Idaho will finally have a voice," she said.

In past years, the Republican presidential nominee was solidified before Idaho's primary even took place, she explained, because of so many preceding primaries and caucuses in other states.

That's why campaigning candidates pencil in Iowa and New Hampshire as the first states to visit, she said, not Idaho.

Now that will change.

"We'll be voting at a time when the actual presidency is still up for grabs, when there's no clear winner," Jacobson said. "Presidential candidates will actually have to come and court Idaho. Beforehand, by the time they got to us, who cared?"

But the change could create complications, said Matt Roetter, KCRCC state committeeman.

Thousands of folks in Kootenai County might want to give their opinion, for instance, which creates a venue problem.

"Where are we going to find a building large enough to do that? You can't do it outside, because the weather is going to be horrible, possibly," Roetter said. "And who's going to pay for all this?"

He also worries that the obligation of showing up at a lengthy caucus might deter some Republicans from participating at all.

"It's hard enough to get them to drive to a local spot in the election poll and vote during the presidential election," he said. "My fear is there will be less people involved."

KCRCC state committeewoman Ruthie Johnson added that she worries a caucus format opens up the opportunity for groups with specific agendas to overwhelm other voters.

"I think people that work within the party and understand what's happening should have their voices heard, more than somebody who might not pay attention except to one issue," Johnson said.

There are a lot of details to be ironed out, acknowledged Jacobson, who will be charged with arranging the county caucus.

But she'll figure it out, she promised.

"We'll make this work," she said.

She thinks it's plausible to hold the caucus in multiple places at once, she added, tuning them all in through computer linkups.

"We just did step one, and you're asking about step 25," she said with a laugh.

Changing to a caucus format was the best way to gain approval for an earlier date through the Republican National Committee, said John Cross, Republican Region 1 chair.

"If we moved our primary up there, it would be at risk of losing delegates (sent to the national convention)," he said. "We're trying to comply with the rules."

Jonathan Parker, Idaho Republican Party executive director, said he thinks the county caucuses will prompt more local participation.

It's beneficial to have an early caucus date, he added, considering Idaho's 32 delegates for the national convention exceed the numbers from Iowa and New Hampshire.

"I think it is a monumental move for the Idaho Republican party," he said. "It's quite possibly changed the political landscape for quite some time."