ST. LOUIS • Newt Gingrich's victory Saturday in South Carolina certainly shakes up what had been shaping up as a predictable primary contest.

But even with the new dynamics, the Show-Me State is a long way from seeing a prominent role in deciding the GOP's nominee for president. 

Ironically, the state's inert Feb. 7 "beauty contest" vote could have actually carried some importance in terms of momentum — if Gingrich were actually on the ballot.

Instead, Missouri Republicans will gather to pick their preferred candidate in caucuses in mid-March, when the race could already be decided.

That possibility is the result of the inability of officials in Jefferson City to push back the planned Feb. 7 vote, so as not to run afoul of party bylaws that allow only a handful of states to hold primaries before March 6. (Although some states have flouted that rule.)

The solution generated by the state GOP was to hold a caucus on March 17.

The Feb. 7 election will still be held, but the results will not count towards the allocating of any delegates. Any value as a straw poll has also been diminished by Gingrich's decision not to sign-up for the ballot.

Whether Missouri's caucus will maintain any drama remains to be seen.

The caucus will be held on a Saturday, more than a week after the cluster of "Super Tuesday" nominating contests on March 6.

Even if Gingrich continues to go toe-to-toe with Mitt Romney in Florida and beyond, it seems unlikely that the nominating contest would wage much past Super Tuesday — every dollar they spend fighting each other is one less Republicans can use to try to unseat Barack Obama.

What's more, is that it's been some time since Missouri voters held a caucus. Iowa's been doing it for decades, and even they had issues this time around.

Will the remaining candidates devote the time and energy required to win a caucus in a state that's inexperienced at holding them?

The calendar suggests they won't have to.