The US Presidential hopefuls and the world's media are descending on the state of Iowa for what many see as the start of the American election season.
The small town of Des Moines gets to choose which Democrat and which Republican candidate they would most like to see as the parties' nominees.
Our US Correspondent Nick Harper is there with a look at why Iowa could be the make or break moment for many campaigns.
IN: "The Iowa..."
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SABC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-sabc.mp3
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ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-ziz.mp3
The Iowa caucus fires the official starting gun for the race to the White House.
And getting to choose its preferred candidate first in the nation means a lot rides on the outcome.
A poor showing here could set the tone for the rest of a candidate's primary season. Hillary Clinton came third in Iowa in 2008 and never really recovered.
But, then again, Mitt Romney finished second in Iowa in 2012, the year he went on to become the Republican nominee.
SOT - "I don't think that winning the Iowa caucuses in either party guarantees that you become the nominee of the party."
But as Niall Stanage, associate editor of political newspaper The Hill explains, a win here has some significant benefits.
SOT - "It''s obviously a big boost, it builds momentum for the New Hampshire primary which is the best one. And beyond that it gives the people who donate to campaigns and just generally work on campaigns a boost if you do well."
And it sorts the wheat from the chaff. The still-crowded Republican field of 12 candidates is likely to thin, with the lowest placing dropping out.
Here's political strategist Joe Abbey from Purple Strategies.
SOT - "I don't think they decide the election but they definitely formalize the field and they make the race much more serious. I think we'll see a Republican field of upwards of 17 candidates be narrowed down to four or five really quickly."
The candidates now hope Iowa will be their campaign launchpad rather than their a crash landing.
SOC
The small town of Des Moines gets to choose which Democrat and which Republican candidate they would most like to see as the parties' nominees.
Our US Correspondent Nick Harper is there with a look at why Iowa could be the make or break moment for many campaigns.
IN: "The Iowa..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 1:33
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-gen.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-rnz.mp3
SABC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-sabc.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0128iowa-nh-ziz.mp3
The Iowa caucus fires the official starting gun for the race to the White House.
And getting to choose its preferred candidate first in the nation means a lot rides on the outcome.
A poor showing here could set the tone for the rest of a candidate's primary season. Hillary Clinton came third in Iowa in 2008 and never really recovered.
But, then again, Mitt Romney finished second in Iowa in 2012, the year he went on to become the Republican nominee.
SOT - "I don't think that winning the Iowa caucuses in either party guarantees that you become the nominee of the party."
But as Niall Stanage, associate editor of political newspaper The Hill explains, a win here has some significant benefits.
SOT - "It''s obviously a big boost, it builds momentum for the New Hampshire primary which is the best one. And beyond that it gives the people who donate to campaigns and just generally work on campaigns a boost if you do well."
And it sorts the wheat from the chaff. The still-crowded Republican field of 12 candidates is likely to thin, with the lowest placing dropping out.
Here's political strategist Joe Abbey from Purple Strategies.
SOT - "I don't think they decide the election but they definitely formalize the field and they make the race much more serious. I think we'll see a Republican field of upwards of 17 candidates be narrowed down to four or five really quickly."
The candidates now hope Iowa will be their campaign launchpad rather than their a crash landing.
SOC