We here at USDemocrazy have been covering the run up to the GOP primaries with hawkish diligence. As our regular readers know we have also been following the rise and fall of all non-Romney frontrunners.

Time to jockey for the lead is ticking out. Tonight is the Iowa Caucus.

The contestants have drawn closer together in the polls. Romney and Ron Paul are closely tied at 21% and 20% respectively, Rick Santorum is polling at 17% and Gingrich has fallen to 15%.

Iowa is not a definitive race-clincher. At least not as much as the victor would hope.

There are four more primaries this month and 50 in total. The New Hampshire primary is one week from today. Historically, these primaries have the potential to set momentum.

Romney, who is polling strongly in New Hampshire, has the opportunity to lock up the nomination early. A win in Iowa and New Hampshire could give the Romney campaign the boost it needs to take a commanding lead over the field.

However, two different victors in Iowa and New Hampshire could easily lead to a long primary season. In 2008 Mike Huckabee won the Iowa contest… John McCain had to wait until New Hampshire to start on his road to the nomination in March of that year.

Paul, a habitual underdog, has seemed to make his break at the perfect moment. Upsetting Romney tonight could easily upset the balance of the primaries for the rest of the season. We will be awake all night to deliver you the news.