Candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination and others spoke before the voting began at the Republican Party Iowa Straw Poll held at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It traditionally takes place in August in years without an incumbent Republican president running for re-election. Iowa residents over the age of 18 years old can vote for one of the nine Republican candidates on the straw poll ballot, but only six will speak at the event, including Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Thaddeus McCotter, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and Rick Santorum. Newt Gingrich, John Huntsman and Mitt Romney will only appear on the ballot.
There was a brief signal loss due to inclement weather during Mr. Gerard’s remarks.