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No matter which direction he goes in Iowa today, the former Massachusetts governor will seem to have the wind at his back. A new Time/CNN poll of likely Iowa caucus-goers puts Mitt Romney in the lead, and campaign staffers expect big crowds again at Romney events, similar to what he saw yesterday.

After Gingrich failed to qualify for the Virginia primary ballot, Mitt Romney compared Gingrich's disorganized campaign to a well-known I Love Lucy episode. Gingrich stopped at an Iowa chocolate store Wednesday but things didn't get out of hand like they did in the TV show. Instead, Gingrich challenged Romney again to a series of one-on-one debates.

The former Massachusetts governor took a swipe at GOP rival Ron Paul and his isolationist foreign policy positions while campaigning in Iowa Wednesday, but he later told reporters he would support the outspoken Texas congressman if he were the Republican Party nominee for president.

The rumor has been out there for weeks, and the state's voting laws suggest it could be possible: though only registered Republicans may participate, anyone can register for the party on caucus night and vote.

The economy is expected to be the No. 1 issue in next year's presidential race. But the states holding the first primary contests are not exactly typical. In Iowa, the unemployment rate is far below the national average. Jobs in small towns, however, remain scarce.

As NPR takes to the road in Iowa this week, we are collecting the words and images of Iowa Republicans still uncertain who they will vote for in next Tuesday's state GOP presidential caucuses.

As he tried to overcome a wave of negative ads, Gingrich was forced to answer questions about two potentially damaging news stories on Tuesday — one about his previous support for Gov. Mitt Romney's health care plan and another about his first divorce.

With more social conservatives in the race this time around, the Romney camp hopes the evangelical vote will splinter, propelling him to a top-two finish in Iowa.

Of course, the economy is the main issue for voters in Iowa's Jan. 3 caucuses. But as the state's Hispanic population surges, Republican candidates are struggling with how best to deal with voter concerns around illegal immigration.

GOP presidential candidates are touring Iowa ahead of next week's caucuses. The main issue for many voters there is the economy, but another hot topic is emerging: overhauling immigration policies. Iowa's Hispanic population is surging, and Republican candidates are struggling with how best to deal with voter concerns.