The NRA is very influential in several early states, including New Hampshire, Florida and Michigan. They provide a built in organization and are experienced operatives because they have targeted anti-Second Amendment types for years and have the scalps to prove it. Rudy and Romney are deceiving themselves if they do not think the NRA is going to come after them and support Fred with all guns blazing.
The thing the MSM and some of the East coast blogging crowd miss (I think, deliberately) is the intensity of Fred’s support. Rudy and Romney have to pay their organizations, because very few people feel strongly supportive of them. Fred, on the other hand, inspires loyalty and admiration because he IS a conservative and he refuses to pander to get votes, as Romney has on the Federal Marriage Amendment and Rudy tried to do today. That is why he gains the support of powerful conservative organizations like NRA and it is why that support, and the support of organizations like it, will propel him to the nomination.
I am always amused by politicians who have to resort to PAID volunteers.