For the first time since 2000, Ohio will play a key role in the Republican primary race — but you probably won’t have a say.

The Buckeye State last mattered to the GOP in 2008, when John McCain declared Sarah Palin to be his running mate at Wright State University’s Nutter Center — a decision that will forever cement his political legacy.

This time around, a conglomeration of presidential suitors will convene to see who will gain momentum before the primary ends in July — however, if you aren’t a registered Republican, you won’t decide who challenges President Barack Obama in November.

You are probably unaware of that in order to vote in the GOP primaries, you must be a registered Republican voter — due to Ohio being a closed-primary state. Don’t worry; they don’t advertise this for a reason.

In 2008, Rush Limbaugh ran a campaign called “Operation Mayhem” where he encouraged his listeners to register as Democrats in order to sway the vote away from Hillary Clinton — guess that one kind of
back fired.

Ohio has a 30-day voter registration requirement, meaning voters needed to update their registration in Ohio by Feb. 6 to vote in time for the March 6 deadline.

While many of us registered from campus or other places throughout the city by volunteer workers, we were registered as an unaffiliated voter — it’s your responsibility to declare your affiliation.

As the pack of contendors approach Ohio, it’s important to know who’s still in the race.

The current Republican leader, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, has often been accused of flip-flopping on issues. Yet he puts up a clear fight to change Obamacare and create more jobs to “get America back to work.”

Newt Gingrich, the old GOP warhorse, is currently situated just behind Romney but is losing ground as the days tick away.

Gingrich has had his fair share of political experience and has garnered media attention from the revelations of how his previous marriages ended — interesting factoids that make his “restoring marriage” dreams questionable.

Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex.), the anti-GOP-establishment candidate, draws support from demographics that might otherwise be Obama supporters. He seeks to balance the federal budget, legalize drugs, repeal ObamaCare, end wars and return to a strictly Constitutional government.

The long shot, Rick Santorum, is gaining momentum following victories in Missouri and Minnesota, but still sits behind Gingrich. Santorum has been a Pennsylvania representative, Senator and lawyer.

While the republican candidates battle out their issues to gain support, Ohio voters should be aware of the overwhelming wave of smear campaigns. Smack talking politicians will be weaving through your airwaves via radio, Internet, and television.

During the elections in 2008, $195 million were spent on political ads. A recent report from MediaVest, a media research firm, predicts that political ad spending could rise more than 30 percent this year compared to four years ago. This rise means ad spending could reach $4 billion this time around.

No Republican has lost Ohio and won the presidency since Abraham Lincoln.

The candidate who wins Ohio, regardless of party, usually wins the highest office. Some even say that as goes Ohio, so goes the nation.

It is important for all voters to stay informed on voting processes, especially if you are willing to go the extra mile to support or stop a certain presidential candidate. Be sure to have your voice be heard. After all, your vote could have altered the course of history.

Had you known you could influence the Republican field, how far would you have gone to change it?