Updated: Jan. 3, 2012 at 9:37 AM

The primary race in Iowa continues(39 images)

With the first national GOP presidential caucus looming ahead on Jan. 3, 2012, the candidates are hitting the road in Iowa looking to raise their profile, their standing in the polls and their chances of winning the Republican presidential nomination.

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum makes remarks to supporters at the Pizza Ranch, as he campaigns in Boone, Iowa, January 2, 2012 in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3. Santorum has come from back in the pack of candidates to challenge former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul for the lead in the polls. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (R) and his wife Ann stand on stage at a campaign rally on January 2, 2012 in Davenport, Iowa. Romney leads the field of Republican presidential hopefuls in the polling before Tuesday's Iowa Caucus. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Texas Gov. Rick Perry encourages his supporters at a campaign rally on January 2, 2012 in Perry, Iowa. Iowa holds their first-in-the-nation caucus for the 2012 election on Tuesday. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Supporters cheer for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney at a campaign rally on January 2, 2012 in Dubuque, Iowa. Romney leads the field of Republican presidential hopefuls in the polling before Tuesday's Iowa Caucus. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks to supporters at a campaign rally on January 2, 2012 in Dubuque, Iowa. Romney leads the field of Republican presidential hopefuls in the polling before Tuesday's Iowa Caucus. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul speaks to supporters at a campaign rally on January 2, 2012 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul signs autographs for supporters after speaking at a campaign rally on January 2, 2012 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (C) responds to a question from a supporter at the Reising Sun Cafe, as he campaigns in Polk City, Iowa, January 2, 2012 in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3. Santorum has come from back in the pack of candidates to challenge former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul for the lead in the polls. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich (L) and his wife Callista listen to questions from supporters at a campaign stop at a bar on January 1, 2012 in Waterloo, Iowa. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich (C) and his wife Callista (L) greet supporters at a campaign stop at a bar on January 1, 2012 in Waterloo, Iowa. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) applauds as his wife Ann is embraced by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during a campaign stop outside a grocery store in West Des Moines, Iowa, December 30, 2011. Polls indicate Romney has a slight lead over opponents Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Supporters of Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are bundled up in pre-dawn blustery weather prior to Romney's arrival for a campaign stop outside a grocery store in West Des Moines, Iowa, December 30, 2011. Polls indicate Romney has a slight lead over opponents Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney makes remarks in front of his campaign bus during a stop at Kinzler Companies, a construction services company in Ames, Iowa, December 29, 2011. Polls indicate Romney has a slight lead over opponents Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3, 2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul makes remarks at a town hall meeting at the historic Hotel Pattee, as he campaigns in Perry, Iowa, December 29, 2011. Polls indicate a tight race between Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich days before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann signs autographs for Katie Hogue,10, (in pink) and her brother William, 8, during a campaign stop at Scooter's Coffee Shop, Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 27, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry hugs Alexandria Miller, 3, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, as he works his way through a crowd at Main Street Cafe, during a meet-and-greet of supporters at Council Bluffs, December 27, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) looks from behind a Santa Claus along with Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio (L), as he arrives at Main Street Cafe, for a meet-and-greet of supporters, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 27, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Retired farmer Terry McCrary of Marshalltown, Iowa, (R) and his grandson Nick Hofstetter listen to remarks by Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at a town hall meeting at the historic Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa, December 29, 2011. Polls indicate a tight race between Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich days before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

W.H. Druck, 77, of Wyaconda, Missouri listens to remarks by Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at a town hall meeting in Ft. Madison, Iowa, December 21, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney laughs as he greets supporters during a campaign stop at Kinzler Companies, a construction services company in Ames, Iowa, December 29, 2011. Polls indicate Romney has a slight lead over opponents Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3, 2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Texas Rep. Ron Paul campaign workers pack up signs at the conclusion of the Republican 2012 presidential candidate's campaign stop at a town hall meeting at the historic Hotel Pattee, in Perry, Iowa, December 29, 2011. Polls indicate a tight race between Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich days before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann greet supporters as they get off their campaign bus during a stop at Kinzler Companies, a construction services company in Ames, Iowa, December 29, 2011. Polls indicate Romney has a slight lead over opponents Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3, 2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul makes remarks at a town hall meeting in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, December 21, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich makes remarks at a town hall meeting at Level 10 Apparel's screen-printing warehouse, in Hiawatha, Iowa, December 19, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney makes remarks during a town hall meeting at Missouri Valley Steel, a steel fabricating company, in Sioux City, Iowa, December 16, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Supporter Joby Weeks of Denver, Colorado holds up a "Vets for Ron Paul" sign as others listen to remarks by Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at a town hall meeting in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, December 21, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (L) waves to children during a campaign stop for a meet-and-greet at Scooter's Coffee Shop, Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 27, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry reaches to shake hands with supporters during a meet-and-greet at Main Street Cafe, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 27, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul (R) takes a question from farmer Henry Plenge of Kahoka, Missouri during a town hall meeting in Ft. Madison, Iowa, December 21, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich signs the back of the shirt worn by Luke Cavanaugh, 14, as his wife Callista watches at a meet-and-greet at Al-Jon Manufacturing, a manufacturer of heavy snow removal machinery and recycling machines, in Ottumwa, Iowa, December 20, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry makes remarks to customers and supporters during a campaign stop at the Copper Coffee Cup in Cherokee, Iowa, December 16, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3, 2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Supporters of Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul await the arrival of Paul for a town hall meeting in Washington, Iowa, December 21, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich and wife Callista wait to be introduced at a meet-and-greet at Al-Jon Manufacturing, a manufacturer of heavy snow removal machinery and recycling machines, in Ottumwa, Iowa, December 20, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann makes remarks as she arrives at a campaign stop for a meet-and-greet at Scooter's Coffee Shop, Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 27, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Dick Ellis, who described himself as a preacher/farmer of Ottumwa, Iowa, askes a question of Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich as his wife Nancy (R) listens during a meet-and-greet at Al-Jon Manufacturing, a manufacturer of heavy snow removal machinery and recycling machines, in Ottumwa, Iowa, December 20, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

Republican 2012 presidential candidate and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich makes remarks as his wife Callista listens at a town hall meeting at Level 10 Apparel's screen-printing warehouse, in Hiawatha, Iowa, December 19, 2011, in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, January 3,2012. UPI/Mike Theiler | License Photo

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