it starts in iowa. i think that s something we have to remember, is that iowa is not where the clock ends but where the clock begins on this campaign. he s going to work very hard in iowa, new hampshire, south carolina, florida, across the early primary states to earn the nomination from republican voters. if he comes in second or third, is that a romney loss or do you see it as long as newt gingrich isn t ahead of him, that s a win for mitt romney? well, i think the plan was to compete very strongly so i think a position in one of those spots would be one where we show that he did compete strongly in that state. i think the most important to this campaign is that this is a campaign that s going to be one that s won over the long haul. if you look at other states, new hampshire, south carolina, florida, they figure prominently in the delegate fight. until a nominee gets 1,144 volts, that s what we will finally know who will lead the republican party against barack obama. unlike oth
who best relates to iowans which tells a different story when it comes to mitt romney. right. mitt romney, remember at the beginning of this campaign we spent a lot of time saying isn t mitt romney going to compete. it competed in 2008. didn t work out well for him. big evangelical contingent here. don t really love mitt romney. then he decided to jump in. has not spent a lot of time in the state. which is why he is at 10%. but, look at michele bachmann, by the way not doing very well. although she said to you she is going the distance. but, she spent a lot of time in the state. ron paul has a great organization in the state. rick santorum, has had over 350 townhalls in the state. that s why these people do well on, whether you rethe law to iowans. whether that is a calling card for winning the presidency is something else. but iowa is a tossup state. it doesn t hurt. when you look at the split in terms of registration, ds and rs evenly split. what is your view, gloria, all
is really good news for mitt romney. mitt romney has been selling himself on somebody who can beat barack obama. one thing that unites all republicans this election season is they want to beat barack obama. you look at this number for mitt romney. 48% say he is the most electable. gingrich is trying to sell himself that way. ron paul says he can go the distance. but, down the line. this so if romney were to win tomorrow, this would be a very big part of the reason. not because people love him. but because they think he can possibly win. right. this is something we should let everyone know. in the entrance polls, we have a slew of questions, among them, are you looking at electability, are you looking at values? brings me to something else you want to talk about. who best relates to iowans which tells a different story when it comes to mitt romney. right. mitt romney, remember at the beginning of this campaign we spent a lot of time saying isn t mitt romney going to compete? of co
front. well, good evening, everyone, i m erin burnett. out front tonight from cnn s election center. an episode of survivor how republican presidential candidate, rick santorum described the iowa caucuses. here is the thing about iowa, no offense, iowa, you are really important. you are also small. only 2 million registered voters. 640,000 republicans. if the 2008 caucuses were an in caution of what is a head for tomorrow, only about 100 tough those republicans will actually go out on a cold january night to cast their votes. and those who do, only a 50% success rate when it actually comes to picking the eventual nominee. so what s all the hype about iowa? the bottom line is it has a huge influence in who stays and doesn t stay in the presidential race. maybe small, but it packs one big punch. listen to candidates today. they know what is really at stake tomorrow. we are not looking for a chief executive officer for this country. we re looking for a commander-in-chief. w
good evening, from cnn s election center because, yes, it has begun and it s an episode of survivor. at least that s how republican presidential candidate rick santorum described the iowa caucuses. here is the thing about iowa. no offense, iowa, you re really important but you re also small. only 2 million registered voters. 640,000 of them republicans. and if the 2008 caucuses were an indication of what s ahead for tomorrow, only about 100,000 of those republicans will actually go out on a cold january night to cast their votes. those who do, it only is a 50% success rate when it actually comes to picking the eventual nominee. so, what s all the hype about iowa? the bottom line is, it has a huge influence in who stays and doesn t stay in a presidential race. it may be small but it packs one big punch. listen to the candidates today. they know what s really at stake tomorrow. we are not looking for a chief executive officer. for this country. we re looking for a commander i