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Iowa caucuses: Republicans make final campaign push Iowa caucuses: Republicans make final campaign push
(about 4 hours later)
Republican presidential candidates are out making their final pitch to voters on the last full day of campaigning before the Iowa caucuses. Republican presidential hopefuls have toured Iowa on the last full day of campaigning before the Hawkeye State's caucuses kick-off the US election year.
Three contenders, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, lead the pack ahead of Tuesday's vote.Three contenders, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, lead the pack ahead of Tuesday's vote.
But recent polls indicate many Iowans have still not decided who they want to vote for.But recent polls indicate many Iowans have still not decided who they want to vote for.
Iowa's ballot is the first contest to pick the Republican who will challenge Barack Obama for the White House.Iowa's ballot is the first contest to pick the Republican who will challenge Barack Obama for the White House.
Tuesday evening's caucuses will involve about 120,000 Iowans gathering in homes, schools and public buildings.Tuesday evening's caucuses will involve about 120,000 Iowans gathering in homes, schools and public buildings.
Candidates are meanwhile conducting a last-minute flurry of campaign events at coffee shops, pizza restaurants and hotel lobbies to win over undecided voters. Spreading the message
The weather in Iowa, which often experiences harsh winters, could be a determining factor in voter turnout on Tuesday. As the vote neared, candidates spent Monday on a last-minute flurry of campaign events at coffee shops, pizza restaurants and hotel lobbies in an effort to to win over undecided voters.
Mr Paul is said to be the most likely candidate to benefit from poor weather conditions, and consequently, a low turnout, while Mr Romney could see his support rise in fair weather.
According to BBC Weather the forecast for Iowa on Tuesday is partly cloudy, with temperatures hovering just above freezing during the day.
On-the-fence voters
Mr Romney leads in the state, which derailed his last run for the presidency in 2008 amid voter concerns about his Mormon faith and perceived inconsistency on some social issues.

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The former Massachusetts governor will win, analysts say, if the evangelical Christian vote is fragmented across competing conservative candidates. Rick Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator who has surged in Iowa polls in recent days, spoke in front of a packed house at a breakfast cafe in Polk City.
An opinion poll on Sunday by the Des Moines Register newspaper suggested Mr Romney remained the most popular candidate in Iowa, with 25% support. Texas Congressman Paul was at 22%, while Mr Santorum scored 15%. Despite concentrating almost exclusively on Iowa, Mr Santorum, a social conservative who appeals to Iowa's evangelical Christian voters, said his new-found popularity was helping his prospects for the long primary season to come.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Santorum, who pitches himself as a social conservative and has surged into third place in the last week, on Monday took a swipe at multimillionaire Mr Romney. "I would just say this, we've raised more money in the last few days than we've raised in the last few months," he said.
Noting Mr Romney's emphasis on his business experience, he said: "We are not looking for executive experience. We are looking for a commander in chief." He has campaigned hard in every one of Iowa's 99 counties, impressing social conservatives with his message of rejecting gay marriage and abortion, even in cases of rape.
Mr Santorum warned that choosing a candidate based purely on electability might prove to be a "pyrrhic victory". The beneficiary of a pre-Christmas poll surge, Texas Congressman Ron Paul restated his libertarian-tinged policies at campaign stops in Des Moines, Mason City and a series of other towns.
He has campaigned hard in every one of Iowa's 99 counties, impressing the state's social conservatives with his message of rejecting gay marriage and abortion, even in cases of rape. Mr Paul - the oldest candidate in the race, at 76 - returned to Iowa after spending the holiday weekend in Texas.
On Sunday, Mr Romney criticised Mr Santorum for the first time on the campaign trail, saying the former senator had "spent his career in the government in Washington". He has faced scrutiny over racially charged newsletters published in his name during the 1980s and 1990s.
After spending the holiday weekend in Texas, Mr Paul - at 76, the oldest candidate in the race - is back in Iowa. Mr Paul - who wants an end to US military intervention overseas, and calls for the abolition of the Federal Reserve - said he had faith in his nationwide organisation, but conceded he needed a good result in Iowa.
Attack ads A poor show in Iowa would be a "real challenge" for the campaign, he told the Associated Press. "We've invested a lot of time and money in doing well here."
The libertarian-leaning candidate has faced scrutiny over racially charged newsletters published in his name during the 1980s and 1990s. Front-runner
He proposes immediately cutting $1 trillion from the budget and abolishing a number of government agencies, including the Department of Education. He also opposes intervention in Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons programme and wants to end all US foreign aid, including to Israel. In the city of Marion, front-runner Mitt Romney - whose 2008 campaign came unstuck in Iowa - exuded confidence.
Former House Speaker Gingrich, who was knocked off his front-runner perch by a fusillade of attack ads, is trying to claw his way back into the race. "We're going to win this thing with all of our passion and strength," he said, before reprising his criticism of President Barack Obama.
He is trailing at the back of the field with Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. "I want to see America united. I watch a president who's become a great divider, the great complainer, the great excuse-giver, the great blamer," Mr Romney said.
Mr Romney, a wealthy former businessman and governor of Massachusetts, has remained at or near the head of the pack throughout a long build-up to the primary campaign.
Persistent doubts about his conservative credentials have allowed others to remain in the hunt, though. Mr Santorum criticised Mr Romney on Monday, saying the nation needed a true commander-in-chief, not simply "executive experience".
Nevertheless, the former Massachusetts governor will win, analysts say, if the evangelical Christian vote is fragmented across competing conservative candidates - including Mr Santorum, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
Former House Speaker New Gingrich - whose own poll numbers surged spectacularly in November and early December - admitted on Monday that a barrage of attack advertisements had seriously eroded his support in Iowa.
At least $12.5m (£8.1m) has been spent on largely negative political advertising in Iowa in recent weeks.At least $12.5m (£8.1m) has been spent on largely negative political advertising in Iowa in recent weeks.
"I don't think I'm going to win," he said, adding: "Whatever I do tomorrow night will be a victory because I am still standing."
Long campaign
Iowa experts say the state's weather could be a determining factor in voter turnout on Tuesday, with Mr Paul's dedicated supporters the most likely to brave poor conditions.
The forecast for Iowa on Tuesday is partly cloudy, BBC Weather says, with temperatures likely to hover just above freezing during the day.
A respected opinion poll published on Sunday by the Des Moines Register newspaper suggested Mr Romney remained the most popular candidate, with 25% support. Mr Paul was at 22%, while Mr Santorum scored 15%.
However, Mr Santorum's support is thought to have risen in recent days.
After Iowa, the state of New Hampshire holds its primary election on 10 January. Mitt Romney has a big lead there.After Iowa, the state of New Hampshire holds its primary election on 10 January. Mitt Romney has a big lead there.
Former Utah Governor Jon Hunstman, who is also a Mormon, has skipped Iowa to campaign intensely in the Granite State. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who is also a Mormon, has skipped Iowa to campaign intensely in the Granite State.
Over the next six months each US state will vote on the presidential contenders before a final nominee is selected. Over the next six months, each US state will vote on the presidential contenders before a final nominee is selected.
The eventual Republican nominee will be anointed at the party convention in August before running in the 6 November general election against Democratic President Obama, who is seeking a second term.The eventual Republican nominee will be anointed at the party convention in August before running in the 6 November general election against Democratic President Obama, who is seeking a second term.
Voters remain concerned by the pace of economic recovery from the recession that started during the end of the presidency of George W Bush and ended in 2009. Voters remain concerned by the slow pace of economic recovery from the recession that started during the end of the presidency of George W Bush and officially ended in 2009.
Are you in Iowa? Will you be casting your vote? Please send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Iowa? Will you be casting your vote? Please send us your comments using the form below.