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Republicans await Iowa straw poll Romney wins Republican Iowa poll
(about 10 hours later)
Republican US presidential hopefuls are in the state of Iowa for straw polls which could help determine who will be the party's candidate next year. Mitt Romney has topped a straw poll of Republican US presidential hopefuls in Iowa, winning almost twice as many votes as his nearest rival.
Tens of thousands of Iowa Republicans were expected at the day-long event in the town of Ames, to hear speeches and vote for their chosen candidate. The Massachusetts ex-governor had been widely tipped to win the informal vote, held in the town of Ames.
Massachusetts ex-Governor Mitt Romney is expected to win, as top rivals Rudy Giuliani and John McCain are absent. But his top rivals, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, did not attend the event. The poll, attended by tens of thousands of Iowa Republicans, could help determine who will be the party's White House candidate next year.
Mr Romney won 4,416 votes, ahead of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who came second with 2,587 votes.
Senator Sam Brownback was close behind with 2,192 votes.
Lame ducks?
Correspondents say the poll could force weaker candidates to drop out.Correspondents say the poll could force weaker candidates to drop out.
Candidates like former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and Congressman Duncan Hunter could leave the presidential race if they fail to make an impact at the polls. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who finished sixth with 1,039 votes, had said in advance that if he did not finish in the top two his campaign was not likely to progress - though as yet he has not made any comment on the results.
Million-dollar bonanza Mr Romney and his rivals rented hundreds of buses to take their supporters to the high profile event, at the Iowa State University campus.
Mr Romney and his rivals are renting hundreds of buses to take their supporters to the event, at the Iowa State University campus. "It's a great way to measure who are the folks that have the character and vision and the organisation and the fundraising capacity, all the elements it takes to win the presidency," Mr Romney said of the event in a video on his campaign website.
Mike Huckabee is one candidate hoping for a bounce at the pollsBut Mr Giuliani and Senator McCain decided not to take part in the bonanza, in which candidates can spend several million dollars on transport and tickets. But Mr Giuliani and Senator McCain decided not to take part in the bonanza, in which candidates can spend several million dollars on transport and tickets.
Actor and former senator Fred Thompson, who has not yet formerly launched his campaign, was also unable to participate. Actor and former senator Fred Thompson, who has not yet formally launched his campaign, was also unable to participate.
Middle-ranking candidates like former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Sam Brownback will hope to boost their campaigns and keep Mr Romney in check.
The latest opinion poll in the state gave the former Massachusetts governor a 16 percentage point lead over Mr Giuliani.
"It's a great way to measure who are the folks that have the character and vision and the organisation and the fundraising capacity, all the elements it takes to win the presidency," Mr Romney said in a video on his campaign website.