LAS VEGAS - For the first time since December, Nevada Republicans gained ground on Democrats in statewide voter registration in May, according to the secretary of state's office.

Democrats, aided by active voter registration drives by the Democratic presidential campaigns and a caucus rule that allowed unregistered voters to register and participate the day of the Jan. 19 caucuses secured an advantage over Republicans of more than 50,000 voters in the state from fewer than 5,000 last year.

That advantage shrank by fewer than 1,000 voters last month.

"Typical Republican emphasis is always on GOTV and certainly we'll shift to that soon, but right now we understand that voter registration in this state has been really Democratic for the last six months or so and it's been our goal to try to do something about that," said Zach Moyle, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party.

In the last month, the GOP organization in the state has grown, with staff sent in from the Republican National Committee, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain's campaign and the state party making new hires.

Moyle said that the state party has opened offices in Carson City, Douglas County, Nye County, Elko County and have multiple offices in Las Vegas.  He estimated the size of the organization as approximately 30 full-time staff in the state.