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| Republicans ready for Iowa test | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voters in the rural state of Iowa are preparing for the first test of the US election season as they choose a Republican candidate to take on Barack Obama for the White House in November. | Voters in the rural state of Iowa are preparing for the first test of the US election season as they choose a Republican candidate to take on Barack Obama for the White House in November. |
| The contest launches a series of state-by-state caucus and primary ballots. | The contest launches a series of state-by-state caucus and primary ballots. |
| Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum lead a field of six contenders in a race that remains too close to call. | Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum lead a field of six contenders in a race that remains too close to call. |
| 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. |
| 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 involve some 1,700 meetings in all of the mid-western state's 99 counties. | The caucuses will involve some 1,700 meetings 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. |
| Candidates made last-ditch efforts on Tuesday to win over the many undecided voters. | Candidates made last-ditch efforts on Tuesday to win over the many undecided voters. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |