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| Iowa caucuses: Republicans ready for 2012 contest | Iowa caucuses: Republicans ready for 2012 contest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Six Republican presidential candidates are preparing for the first official test of the US election season in the rural state of Iowa. | Six Republican presidential candidates are preparing for the first official test of the US election season in the rural state of Iowa. |
| The hopefuls toured Iowa on Monday, the last full day of campaigning before the caucuses. | |
| Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum lead the polls ahead of Tuesday's vote, but the race remains unpredictable. | Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum lead the polls ahead of Tuesday's vote, but the race remains unpredictable. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Spread across some 1,700 meetings in all of Iowa's 99 counties, the meetings see Iowans elect 28 delegates to the Republican National Convention, to be held in Florida in August. | Spread across some 1,700 meetings in all of Iowa's 99 counties, the meetings see Iowans elect 28 delegates to the Republican National Convention, to be held in Florida in August. |
| Spreading the message | Spreading the message |
| As the vote neared, candidates spent Monday in a last-minute flurry of campaign events at coffee shops, pizza restaurants and hotel lobbies in an effort to to win over undecided voters. | As the vote neared, candidates spent Monday in a last-minute flurry of campaign events at coffee shops, pizza restaurants and hotel lobbies in an effort to to win over undecided voters. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Paul - the oldest candidate in the race, at 76 - returned to Iowa after spending the holiday weekend in Texas. | Mr Paul - the oldest candidate in the race, at 76 - returned to Iowa after spending the holiday weekend in Texas. |
| He has faced scrutiny over racially charged newsletters published in his name during the 1980s and 1990s. | He has faced scrutiny over racially charged newsletters published in his name during the 1980s and 1990s. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Front-runner | Front-runner |
| In the city of Marion, front-runner Mitt Romney - whose 2008 campaign came unstuck in Iowa - exuded confidence. | In the city of Marion, front-runner Mitt Romney - whose 2008 campaign came unstuck in Iowa - exuded confidence. |
| "We're going to win this thing with all of our passion and strength," he said, before reprising his criticism of President Barack Obama. | "We're going to win this thing with all of our passion and strength," he said, before reprising his criticism of President Barack Obama. |
| "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. | "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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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 | 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. | 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. | 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%. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. | 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. |