Tuesday’s primary places the Magnolia State on the national political playing field for the first time in decades. Three of the four Republican presidential candidates spent time in the state last week, with Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum making stops in Tupelo.

Mitt Romney, who was in Pascagoula this week and has been endorsed by Gov. Phil Bryant, is ahead in the polls after a huge victory on Super Tuesday but many political analysts say Mississippi’s primary will belong to former Speaker of the House Gingrich, a native of Georgia.

The seat for Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District is also up for grabs. Incumbent Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo faces Robert Estes, of Southaven, and Tea Party favorite Henry Ross, of Eupora, in the primary race.

“This Presidential Preference Primary is very important for the state,” Nunnelee said. “For the first time since it was created in 1980, Mississippi has the opportunity to help decide who the Republican candidate for president will be. We have had three or four of the candidates in the state — I think that is very significant.”

Ross said he felt the importance of the presidential primary is reflective of the congressional race.

“The thing that makes this important is that people are going to decide which way the GOP is going to go,” Ross said. “Is the party going towards a moderate party or are people going to push it in a conservative direction to make the party what it was when Ronald Reagan was president? We have two conservatives and one moderate in the primary — which way do the voters want to see the party and the country go? I think this is the same thing that is taking place in the congressional primary.”

Nunnelee said he planned to spend the weekend on a 25 city bus tour and will be having lunch with Santorum today in Tupelo.

“I’m very excited about this election and I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of people,” he said.

For Ross, he said he planned to hit the highways for the next few days.

“We are in Union County (Saturday) and we will be making rounds and meeting with as many people as we can and talking to them and finding out what they want,” Ross said.

Lowndes County Circuit Clerk Haley Salazar also stressed the importance of Tuesday’s primary.

“The primary election is an important part of the voting process,” Salazar said. “For the first time, Mississippi will play an important role in choosing the GOP candidate for president.”

Salazar said voters will have the opportunity to choose between voting Republican and Democrat in the primary.

“There will be two separate ballots — one for each party. If there is a runoff, you will have to vote for the same party. This doesn’t lock you in to voting party-specific for any other elections. In November, voters will have the choice to vote for the candidate they want without anyone ever knowing which way they voted.”

The polls will be open in Lowndes County from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13.

Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.