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| Iowa caucuses: Republicans set for 2012 caucuses | Iowa caucuses: Republicans set for 2012 caucuses |
| (3 days later) | |
| Six contenders for the US Republican presidential nomination are making frantic final appeals to voters ahead of caucuses across the state of Iowa. | Six contenders for the US Republican presidential nomination are making frantic final appeals to voters ahead of caucuses across the state of Iowa. |
| Tuesday evening's contest launches six months of state-by-state caucus and primary ballots. | Tuesday evening's contest launches six months of state-by-state caucus and primary ballots. |
| Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum lead in a race that remains too close to call. Many voters remain undecided. | Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum lead in a race that remains too close to call. Many voters remain undecided. |
| The caucuses will involve about 120,000 Iowans gathering in homes, schools and public buildings. | The caucuses will involve about 120,000 Iowans gathering in homes, schools and public buildings. |
| Voters will gather at 20:00 EST (01:00 GMT) for sessions that last two hours. | Voters will gather at 20:00 EST (01:00 GMT) for sessions that last two hours. |
| Voters undecided | Voters undecided |
| The caucuses will take place in more than 1,700 locations in all of the mid-western state's 99 counties. | The caucuses will take place in more than 1,700 locations in all of the mid-western state's 99 counties. |
| Iowans will elect 28 delegates to the Republican National Convention, where the party's eventual nominee will be anointed in Florida this August. | Iowans will elect 28 delegates to the Republican National Convention, where the party's eventual nominee will be anointed in Florida this August. |
| Iowa is not expected to settle the contest - John McCain, the eventual Republican nominee in 2008, came fourth in the state's caucuses that year - but it will help shape the race for the White House. | Iowa is not expected to settle the contest - John McCain, the eventual Republican nominee in 2008, came fourth in the state's caucuses that year - but it will help shape the race for the White House. |
| Although the candidates have been campaigning for months on end, about 40% of voters say they could still be swayed, and the Republicans made last-ditch efforts on Tuesday to win over the many undecided voters. | Although the candidates have been campaigning for months on end, about 40% of voters say they could still be swayed, and the Republicans made last-ditch efforts on Tuesday to win over the many undecided voters. |
| Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and two of Mitt Romney's sons spoke at an afternoon "Rock the Caucus" event at a West Des Moines high school. | Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and two of Mitt Romney's sons spoke at an afternoon "Rock the Caucus" event at a West Des Moines high school. |
| Mr Paul told a crowd of young voters he did not believe in sending young people to war unless "absolutely necessary". | Mr Paul told a crowd of young voters he did not believe in sending young people to war unless "absolutely necessary". |
| Mr Santorum told the students that government would "crush your pocketbooks", the Des Moines Register reported. | Mr Santorum told the students that government would "crush your pocketbooks", the Des Moines Register reported. |
| Mrs Bachmann is now travelling to Black Hawk County, where she was born, to speak at a caucus event at 17:30 CST (23:30 GMT). | Mrs Bachmann is now travelling to Black Hawk County, where she was born, to speak at a caucus event at 17:30 CST (23:30 GMT). |
| 'Hard to predict' | 'Hard to predict' |
| Former Massachusetts Governor Romney, whose last run for the presidency in 2008 was effectively derailed in Iowa, adopted a more cautious tone on Tuesday, a day after predicting he would win. | Former Massachusetts Governor Romney, whose last run for the presidency in 2008 was effectively derailed in Iowa, adopted a more cautious tone on Tuesday, a day after predicting he would win. |
| He told MSNBC television: "It's hard to predict exactly what's going to happen. I think I'll be among the top group." | He told MSNBC television: "It's hard to predict exactly what's going to happen. I think I'll be among the top group." |
| Recent opinion polls suggest a knife-edge contest between Mr Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a small-government, anti-war libertarian, who enjoys widespread support in the Hawkeye state. | Recent opinion polls suggest a knife-edge contest between Mr Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a small-government, anti-war libertarian, who enjoys widespread support in the Hawkeye state. |
| But former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum - whose conservative Christian message plays well in Iowa - has been closing the gap on both men. | But former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum - whose conservative Christian message plays well in Iowa - has been closing the gap on both men. |
| Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who was until last month the front-runner in Iowa, hit back at Mr Romney on Tuesday. | Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who was until last month the front-runner in Iowa, hit back at Mr Romney on Tuesday. |
| He said Mr Romney should "just level with the American people" about his moderate political views. | He said Mr Romney should "just level with the American people" about his moderate political views. |
| Mr Gingrich also said it was "baloney" that Mr Romney had nothing to do with a political action committee that has pummelled Mr Gingrich with attack ads. | Mr Gingrich also said it was "baloney" that Mr Romney had nothing to do with a political action committee that has pummelled Mr Gingrich with attack ads. |
| Asked on CBS television if he was calling Mr Romney "a liar," the former House speaker said: "Yes." | Asked on CBS television if he was calling Mr Romney "a liar," the former House speaker said: "Yes." |
| Mr Romney lost Iowa in 2008 amid voter scepticism over his Mormon faith and conservative credentials. | Mr Romney lost Iowa in 2008 amid voter scepticism over his Mormon faith and conservative credentials. |
| But he can win this time, analysts say, if the evangelical Christian vote is split across competing conservative candidates - including Mr Santorum, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. | But he can win this time, analysts say, if the evangelical Christian vote is split across competing conservative candidates - including Mr Santorum, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. |
| Chilly forecast | Chilly forecast |
| 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. |
| 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 candidate will run in the 6 November general election against Democratic President Obama, who is seeking a second term. | The candidate will run in the 6 November general election against Democratic President Obama, who is seeking a second term. |
| Mr Obama, meanwhile, plans to host a web-chat with supporters in Iowa on Tuesday as the caucuses take place. | Mr Obama, meanwhile, plans to host a web-chat with supporters in Iowa on Tuesday as the caucuses take place. |
| 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. |