The Iowa Caucus is noteworthy for the amount of media attention they receive during U.S. presidential election years. Since 1972,
[2] the Iowa caucuses have been the first major electoral event of the
nominating process for
President of the United States. Although only about 1% of the nation's delegates are chosen by the Iowa State Convention (25 Republican delegates in 2012, assigned proportionately), the Iowa caucuses have served as an early indication of which candidates for president might win the nomination of their
political party at that party's national convention, and which ones could drop out owing to lack of support.