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Iowa caucuses: Republicans begin 2012 election Iowa caucuses: Republicans begin 2012 US election
(40 minutes later)
Iowa Republicans have begun voting in caucuses to pick their nominee for the 2012 presidential election.Iowa Republicans have begun voting in caucuses to pick their nominee for the 2012 presidential election.
Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum led in late polling, but the race remains too close to call and many voters remained undecided. Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum led in preliminary results, but the race remains too close to call with votes held in more than 1,700 caucuses.
Six Republican contenders spent Tuesday making frantic final appeals to voters.Six Republican contenders spent Tuesday making frantic final appeals to voters.
The caucus meetings are the first time voters have a say in the race to face Democratic President Barack Obama in November's general election.The caucus meetings are the first time voters have a say in the race to face Democratic President Barack Obama in November's general election.
Tuesday evening's contest launches months of caucuses and primary elections in 50 states, Washington DC and other territories, culminating in the Republican National Convention in August where the party nominee will be formally anointed.Tuesday evening's contest launches months of caucuses and primary elections in 50 states, Washington DC and other territories, culminating in the Republican National Convention in August where the party nominee will be formally anointed.
About 120,000 Iowans were expected to gather in homes, schools and public buildings across the state. In the caucus
Voters undecided 11% of precincts reporting
The caucuses will take place in more than 1,700 locations in all of the mid-western state's 99 counties. About 120,000 voters gathered at more than 1,700 fire stations, schools, public buildings and private homes ahead of the official 20:00 EST (01:00 GMT) start to the voting.
An Associated Press poll of voters ahead of the start of the caucus start confirmed that former Massachusetts Governor Romney, Texas Congressman Paul and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum formed the top tier of candidates.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann and Texas Governor Rick Perry are also in the race. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is on the ballot, but did not campaign in Iowa.
Preliminary exit poll results from ABC News indicated independent voters - who are allowed to register as Republicans and participate in the caucuses - had voted heavily in favour of Mr Paul.
Evangelical Christians were split between Mr Santorum and Mr Paul, and the half of caucus-goers describing themselves as "very conservative" were tilting to Mr Santorum.
Also, ABC's exit poll showed Mr Romney doing well among older voters - a significant chunk of the electorate.
Small town affairs
In the caucuses, voters are allowed to speak on behalf of the candidates they support, followed by a vote, the results of which are transmitted on to the media and to the state Republican party.
Many of the caucuses are tiny affairs held in small towns in each of Iowa's 99 counties.
In Dawson, fewer than 20 voters gathered at a fire station to hold a caucus amid the fire trucks, reports BBC North America Editor Mark Mardell.
A hall in a school in Des Moines was overflowing with caucus goers, reports the BBC's Steve Kingstone.
"It's hard to spot a Bachmann fan, but other candidates all have support here," he reports.
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. Roller coaster
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. Although the candidates have been campaigning for months on end, about 40% of voters said at the end of December they could still be swayed, and the Republicans made last-ditch efforts on Tuesday to win over the many undecided voters.
He told MSNBC television: "It's hard to predict exactly what's going to happen. I think I'll be among the top group." The Iowa campaign has been a roller coaster affair since the summer, with Ms Bachmann, Mr Perry and Mr Gingrich each taking a brief turn at the head of the pack.
Mr Romney lost Iowa in 2008 amid voter scepticism over his Mormon faith and the depth of his conservative principles. Those three - along with ex-candidate Herman Cain - were buoyed by support from conservatives unsatisfied with Mr Romney, who held steady in second place in polling. But each in turn collapsed under further scrutiny or, in Mr Gingrich's case, a heavy barrage of negative advertising.
Close contest Mr Romney lost in Iowa in 2008 amid voter scepticism over his Mormon faith and the depth of his conservative principles.
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, Mr Perry and Ms Bachmann.
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 Mr Santorum - a former Pennsylvania senator whose conservative Christian message plays well in Iowa - has been closing the gap on both men.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spent much of November and December leading the polls only to see his support collapse under a barrage of negative advertising funded by a nominally independent group run by former Romney advisers.
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.
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.