Poll: Iowans Caucus Tonight

Tonight, thousands of Iowa residents will head to caucus locations for the tradition of choosing a Republican presidential nominee.

With almost every Republican presidential candidate leading the polls at some point in the past three months, many Iowans are reportedly still undecided. Weather and this last week of heavy campaigning are just two of the factors that may determine caucus turnout tonight.

The latest polls are mixed. Some put former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ahead of Sen. Ron Paul and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Others show former Sen. Rick Santorum gaining on Romney and Paul.

Caucusing, unlike voting, is a very social and public event, and it can take hours. Each candidate or a representative from the candidate’s campaign can make a short speech. Then, caucus-goers talk to their friends and neighbors before writing the last name of a candidate on a blank piece of paper. The ballots are counted immediately, in front of everyone. (Learn more with this caucusing primer from CBS News.)

Did you know? Patch has several publications in Iowa, including Ames and Iowa City.

D.C.'s Primary

D.C.’s primary is scheduled for April 3 and, frankly, it may not be very exciting. So far, only one Republican candidate—Mitt Romney—collected enough signatures to be on our ballot. President Barack Obama also already filed his petition and to appear the ballot.

Other Republican candidates, including Newt Gingrich, Jon Hunstman and Ron Paul, have all picked up petitions to be on the ballot in D.C. The deadline to file petitions is Jan. 4.

Here, each candidate must get 1,000 signatures or 1 percent of voters in the same party as the candidate. For Republicans that 1 percent number is 296 valid signatures, total.

Georgetowners are smattered across the lists of delegates and alternates for the four Republicans who have expressed an interest in being on the D.C. ballot. Each candidate lists 16 delegates and 16 alternates to attend a convention on his behalf.

• Mitt Romney garnered the most support from Georgetowners, with four delegates and three alternates from the neighborhood.
• Newt Gingrich has four delegates from Georgetown and one alternate.
• Ron Paul has three delegates from Georgetown, though two are in the same household.
• Jon Huntsman secured support from three Georgetowners, one delegate and two alternates. The three represent two separate households.

If you were caucusing in Iowa, which candidate would get your vote?

Answer our poll question and weigh in by commenting.