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    Iowa Republican Caucus 2012: Grand Old Party or Grand Ole Opry?

    GOP Candidates Scrambling for Front-Runner Position in 2012 Iowa Caucus

    By Evan Davis | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Mon, Oct 10, 2011
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    COMMENTARY | The Grand Old Party is alive and well in Iowa as evidenced by the skirmishing among Republican candidates jockeying to position themselves in the lead up to the Iowa Caucus. Who are the contenders? Just about everyone with the exception of Sarah "I coulda been a contenda" Palin, who has traded plans to run for President for the role of influence broker.

    The current lineup has been winnowed from the eight who participated in the debate in Ames, Iowa in August. Participating were Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman, and Newt Gingrich.

    Since the debate, much has changed. Tim Pawlenty has dropped out altogether, Jon Huntsman is passing on Iowa, Newt Gingrich has all but vanished, and Ron Paul, the Values Poll favorite, is campaigning his heart out but unable to get ahead. Sherisse Pham of ABC News reports that Santorum is practically a nonentity in Iowa, and that Cain enjoys no more than occasional bursts of popularity. Michele Bachmann, once leading the pack, has taken a back seat to Texas Governor Rick Perry, and Mitt Romney has gradually ascended to GOP front runner in polling against Obama.

    Bob Boshart of Globegazette.com reports in his article of October 8, 2011, Iowa GOP Campaigning Steps Up, that the Iowa caucus -- now tentatively scheduled for January 3, 2012 -- is shaping up to be a make or break event for Iowa native Michele Bachmann. Ms. Bachmann's political star has waxed and waned since August, and it is unclear what her future holds even if she comes out on top in January. Sarah Palin's decision not to run may offer Romney an opening in Iowa to consolidate the conservative base if he chooses to spend his political capital on the caucus, but Romney is so far publicly undecided. James Q. Lynch, writing for Iowacaucus.com, reports Rick Perry is actively wooing Iowa conservatives as evidenced by his October 7 speaking engagement in Tiffin, Iowa, to 300 conservatives looking for a candidate to back in the Iowa precinct caucuses.

    What does this mean in Iowa? The Grand Old Party is engaged in a Grand Ole Opry free for all where Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Mitt Romney appear to be emerging as the front runners. However, all players are still in action, and who will ultimately triumph remains unpredictable.

     

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