• Ron Paul to finish 3rd in Iowa

    Jim Young / Reuters

    Republican presidential candidate Congressman Ron Paul celebrates with his wife, Carol (L, Front), his son Senator Rand Paul (C, Rear) and other family members and supporters at his Iowa Caucus night rally.

     

    NBC News projects that Texas Rep. Ron Paul will finish third in a closely-fought battle for the first nominating contest of the 2012 Republican primary.

    Read the full story here.

    MSNBC's Rachel Maddow discusses with a panel what Ron Paul's third place finish in Iowa means for the future of his campaign and for his competitors.

  • Iowa caucuses are too close to call

    Dave Weaver / AP

    Voters debate during a caucus of precinct 42 near Smithland, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012.

    Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA

    Ron Paul receives a handwritten vote from Iowa Republicans in the Keokuk County Courthouse in the first contest of the 2012 US presidential nominating process in provincial Sigourney, Iowa on Tuesday.

    Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA

    Stephanie Atwood (C) hands out paper ballots to Iowa Republicans in the Keokuk County Courthouse in Iowa on Tuesday night.

    Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

    Local resident Matthew Sorenson registers at the West Des Moines Precinct 1 and 2 GOP Caucus held at the Seven Flags Event Center on Tuesday night.

    msnbc.com staff reports:

    Iowans began gathering throughout the state at 8 p.m. ET to caucus for their preferred candidate for the GOP nomination. As of that time, NBC News projects the race as too close to call.

    NBC also projects that, based on early vote totals and entrance polling, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are competing to win the Iowa caucus.

    Read the full story here.

    NBC's Ron Mott explains what a caucus is and how the caucus process works.

  • No wrinkles for Romney as Iowa caucuses launch intensified stage of GOP campaign

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Technician Richie Beanan irons the U.S. flag on stage in anticipation to a rally with supporters on Iowa caucus night for Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at the Hotel Fort Des Moines Jan. 3, 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa. Candidates made a final push to try and sway voters as Iowans took part in the first caucus of the 2012 presidential election.

    Msnbc.com reports: The 2012 Republican presidential nominee won't be crowned Tuesday in Iowa. But when Iowans show up this evening for the state's caucuses — the first nominating contest of the 2012 GOP primary — they'll be setting the parameters for a campaign that, after months of anticipation, is only beginning in earnest.

    The latest polls, one released as recently as Saturday, have made clear that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum compose the top tier of candidates vying for a win Tuesday night in Iowa.

    Dave Weaver / AP

    Chris Kreger and John Carr talk outside a caucus Tuesday Jan 3, 2012 at precinct 42 near Smithland, Iowa.

    Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

    A young boy prepares to leave school before the arrival of voters at the Waukee Precinct 4 GOP Caucus held at Walnut Hills Elementary School Jan. 3, 2012 in Urbandale, Iowa. After months of campaigning by candidates, Iowan voters throughout the state prepare to participate in the first caucus of the 2012 presidential election.

    Jeff Haynes / Reuters

    A Gingrich caucus worker looks on as Iowa caucus goers arrive and sign in for the caucus at the UNI Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, Jan. 3, 2012.

    The latest polls show former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are leading the race in Iowa. But as the caucus race draws to a close, the rhetoric is escalating. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

     

  • Gingrich becomes tearful speaking about his mother

    Andrew Burton / Getty Images

    Republican presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich wipes away a tear while speaking about his deceased mother during a question and answer forum put together by Moms Matter 2012 at Java Joe's, a coffee shop, on Dec. 30, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. The GOP presidential contenders are crisscrossing Iowa in the final stretch of campaigning in the state before the January 3rd caucus, the first test the candidates must face before becoming the Republican presidential nominee.

    By Rich Shulman

    This moment on the campaign trail today reminds a bit of the famous "my mother was a saint" line Richard Nixon uttered in his farewell speech to his staff after resigning the presidency. Newt Gingrich, like Nixon, is known for his hard-nosed political style.

    Watch the video below and let us know (via the poll) if you think Gingrich is really being sincere.

    While speaking to a group of mom's in Des Moines, Iowa, Newt Gingrich gets choked up while talking about his own mom.

  • Protesters are arrested outside of Mitt Romney's Iowa campaign headquarters

    Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

    Supporters of presidential hopeful U.S. Rep Ron Paul (R-TX) attempt to block Occupy Wall Street protesters who are disrupting a campaign event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Dec. 28, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. With less than one week to go before the Iowa caucuses, Ron Paul is trying to maintain his lead as he campaigns through Iowa.

    WHO-TV reports:  About 150 protesters occupied Romney's campaign offices on Ingersoll near 29th Street late Wednesday afternoon.

    Seven people were arrested for criminal trespassing. The rest of the protesters then made their way to Wells Fargo Bank down the street, where three people were arrested.

    The group says it’s protesting a $62,000 donation made by the bank to the Romney campaign.

    Joshua Lott / Reuters

    Occupy Des Moines protesters block the entrance of Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's office in Des Moines, Iowa Dec. 28, 2011.

    J. David Ake / AP

    A protester is arrested for blocking the entrance to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's local campaign office during an Occupy The Caucus demonstration in Des Moines, Dec. 28, 2011.